Steffenson, Irene Delores (nee Jensen)

Age 97 of Minneapolis passed away on January 4, 2026. Irene was born to Julius and Rose Jensen (nee Eichner) on March 8, 1928 and grew up in northeast Minneapolis. Although she was a city girl, she had many fond memories of summer days spent with relatives in Walnut Grove and Westbrook, Minnesota. She attended Edison high school where she was salutatorian of the winter graduation class of 1946. She married Olaf Steffenson in 1951 and together they made their home in Anoka and had three children: James (Bonny), Ruth (Gene) and Brian (Winnie). Irene held several clerical and administrative assistant positions during her working life; however, her favorite one was being a librarian because she loved books and reading. She was an avid gardener and kept a beautiful yard with many flower beds. Irene was the consummate homemaker, being particularly skilled at baking and keeping an immaculately tidy house, earning her the moniker of “clean Irene.”  Her memory astonished everyone because she could recall the smallest details of her life as a very young child. Irene was a delight to her parents, a trusted sister to her siblings, a devoted wife to her husband, an inspiring and nurturing mother to her children, and a caring good friend to all who made her acquaintance. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Norma, Lois, Betty, Carol, and Kathryn and brother Wesley. In addition to her children, she is survived by her sister LaDonna Jensen; many nieces and nephews; grandchildren Shannon, Adam (Meena), Paul (Danielle), Ashley (Chance), and Michelle; and great grandchildren Will, Isabelle, Warren, Cora and Annie.

A celebration of Irene’s life will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with visitation at 10am and service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Irene’s favorite organizations: Minnesota Public Radio, Twin Cities Public Television; National Audubon Society; Friends of the Hennepin County Library; and American Cancer Society.