Christina Steinbach

Christina Marie (Rheault) Steinbach, 37, of Elizabeth, passed away peacefully at the Lakeland Hospice House in Fergus Falls on Monday, October 31, 2011, after a short and courageous battle with cancer. Christina was born May 8, 1974, in Moorhead, Minnesota, the daughter of Gary Rheault and Bonnie Novacek (Richards). She spent her earlier years living near Barnesville, Minnesota, and later moved with her family to the family farm near Dent, Minnesota. She graduated as co-salutatorian from Perham High School in 1992, where she was an avid cross-country runner and skier, and enjoyed Mock Trial. Christina graduated with honors from Northwestern Bible College in St. Paul in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Christina and Steven Steinbach were married on December 20, 1997, at St. James Catholic Church in Maine Township. They moved to Fergus Falls, where they lived briefly prior to moving to Elizabeth. They are the parents of five children, and in 2009 adopted a son, Christian. Education was highly valued by Christina, as while raising her family she continued to further her own education by attending Fergus Falls Community College (MSCTC) where she graduated in 2007 with an associate’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technician. She worked at the Fergus Falls Medical Group from 2007 until 2008, and continued her career in the medical laboratory at Perham Memorial Hospital in 2008, where she worked until her health prevented her from continuing. She loved her job, reading books, researching topics, movies, organizing projects; and working on and decorating the house. Christina was a loving wife and mother who enjoyed sharing jokes and laughing. She was a “faith-filled” member of our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. She will be dearly missed as she has touched many lives. Preceding her in death were her brother, Scott Rheault, on November 26, 2001, and her grandfather, Adrian Rheault, in 2007. Survivors include her husband, Steve, of Elizabeth; sons: Andrew, Jonathan, Peter, and Christian, and daughters: Katherine and Maria; her sister, Angie (Jerry) Moen of Deer Creek, MN; brothers, Chad (fiancèe Shallon Hagen) Rheault of Plymouth, MN, and Sean Rheault of Fergus Falls; her mother, Bonnie (Bill) Novacek of Dent, MN; her father, Gary (Lyn Biittner) Rheault of Fergus Falls; grandparents: Paul (Dorothy) Richards of Dent, MN, David (Gloria) Steinbach of Fergus Falls, and Jean Rheault of West Fargo; nieces, Ashley (Adam) Freyholtz of Wadena, Sarah, Amber and nephew, Michael of Deer Creek; brother-in-law, Shaun Steinbach and sister-in-law, Christina Steinbach, both of Fergus Falls. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with 6:30 parish prayers with Knights of Columbus Rosary to follow, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Funeral Mass: 12:30 p.m. Friday, November 4, 2011, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Father Greg Paffel, Father LeRoy Schik, Deacon Chuck Kampa, and Sister Joyce Leibly Interment: St. James Catholic Cemetery in Maine Township Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.