Karen Steinbach

It is with love and sadness that we wish to announce the death of Karen R. Steinbach on Sunday, June 17, 2018. Karen was born in Indiana on April 8, 1941, to parents Margaret and Erwin Criswell. After her parent's divorced, Karen and her mother made a blended family with Nelson Holmes and his children, Linda, Terry and Danny. This family moved to Yuma, Ariz., where Karen graduated from high school and attended Northern Arizona University. She married Allen (Scooter) Steinbach and soon moved to northern California with daughters Lutitia and Julia. Karen loved the vineyards and farms in the area. She worked as a respiratory therapist in a local hospital and traveled extensively with friends around the area. Karen returned to school and earned a counseling degree. She finished her career as a marriage and family counselor with Jewish Family Services in the Phoenix area and USMC base in Yuma. Upon retirement, Karen next fell in love with Montana when she followed daughter Julia to West Yellowstone. Karen helped Julia feed the community and tourists with several dining ventures in that area. One of her great nieces introduced her to a dating site for seniors where Karen met and fell in love with Bill Murphy, his community and the residents. It was clear that Karen wanted to remain at home during this recent illness and savor the friendships she had formed. She was home except for the times she was traveling the state or jumping out of an airplane just three weeks ago! That was made possible with the help of Amanda, Chris, and several local residents. I am forever grateful to all of them and the loving care of the hospice professionals and staff at Barrett Hospital. Karen’s wish was to be cremated and her ashes spread with those of her daughters in the Montana mountains she could see from her kitchen window. You are invited to look out those same windows on Saturday, June 23, for a celebration of Karen’s life. We will serve light refreshments and drinks at her home, 147 Grandview Ranch Ln. Please come at 2 p.m. and bring a story of love and fun.