Margaret Steig

Margaret Steig, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, known affectionately as "Grams" to the whole family she loved dearly, died after a brief illness on March 2, 2017, in Longview, Washington, at the age of 94.

Margaret Marie Hughes was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, on April 9, 1922, to William G. Hughes and Marie St. Onge Hughes. Margaret spent her early childhood in Garibaldi, Oregon, moving with her parents to Longview when she was six. She attended Kessler School until she was twelve when her parents moved to Kelso. Margaret was a graduate of Kelso High School.

After high school, Margaret lived briefly in Vancouver, Washington, then moved back to Kelso. During World War II, she worked at the Port of Longview for its director, Harvey Hart. During this time she met a young forestry graduate from South Dakota, George Steig, whom she married in November 1944. She and George lived a full, loving and busy life together in Longview and were married for 70 yrs prior to George's death in 2015. With the birth of her children, Margaret's focus became the raising of her children. She and her husband's desire was to help their children be the best people they could be. As her children grew older and became more independent, Margaret went back to working outside the home at Renaud Electric as their bookkeeper, enjoying her work with her high school classmate, Tom Renaud, in his business and with all the employees of the company for many years.

Margaret was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Longview as a child and later as an adult for nearly 80 years. There she was a charter member of St. Mary's Circle, founded in 1946. She and her fellow members were instrumental in forming St. Frances Circle for many of their daughters in 1979, a circle still active today.

Margaret was never an athlete or musician herself, but she and George loved attending athletic activities and musical events with their children and grandchildren, encouraging each of them to pursue their passion. She was a guiding hand in her children and grandchildren's lives and celebrated their successes. In later years, Margaret loved watching the Mariners play baseball and the Huskies play anything.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her younger sister, Helen. She is survived by a family who loved her so much; by her son, Terry Steig (Theresa) of Seattle and their daughters, Michela Bedard (Brian) and their children, Ronan Bedard and Filomena Bedard, all of Portland; and by Anika Steig of San Francisco; by her daughter, Chris Steig Richards (John) of Longview, their daughter, Alison Beam (Jason) and their children, Brady George Beam, Berkley Beam, Carson Beam and Camden Beam, all of Portland; by Tad Richards of Seattle, and by Shane Richards (Meggie) and their son, Emmett Richards of Seattle; by her son, Tracey Steig (Liz) and their daughters, Nichole Steig and Andrea Grace Steig, all of Seattle; and by many cousins and their families locally, in Oregon, British Columbia and Wisconsin.

We want to thank the fine staff of the Canterbury Chateau for their very kind care of Margaret, not only in her final days, but throughout the last two plus years of the life she enjoyed there. At the Canterbury, she made the best of friends with other residents whom she loved very much.

To honor Margaret, please consider doing something with her in mind -- smile or speak to a stranger or someone in need, bake a pie for family or friends (Margaret was known to bake the best pies!), or hug your family -- tell those you care for that you love them, just as Margaret did throughout her final days.