Carol Steinke of Grand Forks, N.D., died unexpectedly March 2, 2023, at Altru Hospital. She was 72.
A Celebration of Carol’s life is being planned for April or May, and will be announced soon.
Carol Werner was born June 3, 1950, the oldest daughter of Jack and Lorraine Werner, and she grew up in Watkins. She graduated from St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring in 1968, and from St. Cloud State University in 1972 with a degree in physical education. She moved to Grand Forks in 1976 and began her career at Agassiz Enterprises where she worked for 43 years, managing staff and coordinating activities for people with disabilities. She truly enjoyed her profession.
Carol enjoyed golfing, and she was a league bowler since she moved to North Dakota, including bowling in city, state, and national bowling tournaments where she made many friends. She enjoyed playing cards in 14-hour marathons with her good friends Sue and Paulette. Carol loved spending time with family. She would often tell stories of growing up with her two close sisters Mary and Nancy. She was proud to be grandmother to Jack (11) and Lila (5). Much of her retirement included spending time with them. Grandma Carol and Lila would bake, color, play games, and do regular manicures and pedicures together. Carol and Jack would tinker with old toys of Josh’s, play games, and she loved treating him to Dairy Queen, rootbeer floats, L&M Meats’ summer sausage, and her famous meatloaf. Carol loved the holidays, especially Halloween when she would make up new costumes and decorate her garage for the neighborhood kids to come trick-or-treating.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her son Josh (and Lindsey) Steinke and their two children Jack and Lila; sisters Mary (and Paul) Lenfestey and Nancy (and Marv) Karth; nieces Tracy Karth and Michelle (and Jon) Vaughn.
In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a donation to Special Olympics North Dakota, in her name; funds will be used for their bowling program.