Faith, population 475, is one of those towns that people describe as "blink and you'll miss it." Lila Steen loved living in the blink.

Lila E. Steen, 85, died Tuesday, July 14, 2009, after a heart attack and kidney failure at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Lila Evelyn Knight was born Oct. 17, 1923, to Wally and Sara (Inamongst) Knight in Dupree. She was the eldest of six siblings. She grew up on her parents' ranch on Ash Creek on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. She attended boarding schools at Pierre Indian School, the Old Agency near Gettysburg and at Dupree.

She worked as a clerk at Hearst Pharmacy Drug Store in Dupree. She then worked as a nurse's aid at St. Joseph Hospital in Deadwood. She married Albert Steen Jr. on Sept. 13, 1951, by a Justice of the Peace in Rapid City. The couple honeymooned in the Black Hills.

She brought her saddle, bridle and cattle and they moved onto the Steen Homestead, where the couple began their ranching life living in the home her husband built for her. After Albert bought her a Necci sewing machine, she began sewing clothing, toys and curtains for family and friends.

She knew her way around a kitchen. She cooked for branding, haying and sheep shearing crews as well as for family holidays and picnics. She also packed lunches for her school-age children and her husband while he worked for Jim Keegan's dirt moving business. She was counted on to be a part of the Turtle Creek School's food committee at all of the country school's social events and concessions.

She lived in Faith during the school year from 1972 to 1976, where she babysat her grandson for her eldest daughter and tended house while her youngest daughter attended high school. She established lifelong friendships with neighbors Deloris Short, Carol McQuirk, Barbara Eaton and Linda Hipps. The ladies would coffee together and visit during the day before their children returned from school.

It was during this time that Lila began to crochet and knit afghans for her family and friends. She attended a quilting class by Virginia Till of Dupree. It launched a career in making and selling quilts. Two of her quilts were presented to President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, during a Habitat for Humanity blitz build in Eagle Butte. The handmade quilts are part of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, Ga.

She loved hollyhocks, lilacs and wild roses, rodeos and her daily walks. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Big Stone Lake, California, Montana, Colorado as well as Yellowstone Park. She was a fierce card player and loved best to play with her family, especially her husband and in-laws.

She is survived by her husband,
Albert; two daughters, Lou Ann Steen, Faith, and Jomay Steen, Rapid City; three grandchildren, Chris Steen, Faith, Bobbi (Mark) Misar, Oldham, and Gene Steen, Gillette, Wyo.; one great-granddaughter, Lani Misar, Oldham; one sister, Nadine (Stanley) Cook, Covelo, Calif.; and one brother, Doug Knight, Dupree.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Lucille; and two brothers, Jess Knight and Louie Knight.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Faith Community Legion Hall. A private inurnment will be at a later date on the family's ranch.