Carol S. Steinkirchner

Carol Stevens Steinkirchner passed away unexpectedly on June 17, 2023. (We are sorry, Dad; we would have given you plenty of warning, but she didn't wait. You did have ten years of peace and quiet, however). As we mourn her loss, we celebrate her extraordinary life and the enduring legacy of resilience and strength that she has passed on.
Carol was born December 13, 1928, to Feron T. and Jessie Roundy Stevens at the family home in Peoa, Utah. Thankfully Carol was the youngest of five daughters. Otherwise, her parents might have thought twice about bringing more kids into the world. She was a spunky little curly towheaded girl. Growing up during the Depression, she often said they didn't know they were poor. Being frugal and cleverly creative was a way of life. Since her parents had no boys, she was chosen to help her dad on the farm. There wasn't anything she couldn't do or at least try to do. Carol, in turn, raised all three of her daughters to be strong independent women. She loved going up on the hill behind their little farmhouse barefoot and lying in the grass looking at the clouds. Carol would always point out shapes in the clouds no matter where she was. She would go up on the bench with her dad to herd sheep. She knew how to milk a cow, ride a horse, gather eggs, and help in the fields. Carol loved to sing. When she was little, she made up a song, standing in the middle of Woodenshoe Lane in the dark, gazing up at the moon. She recounted the tune and melody many times, even as an adult. "Lollypop Moon up in the Sky"...She prided herself that people would often ask her momma, "Where was this song published?" Grandma would say it came straight out of her head!
There was also a mischievous side to Carol. Many times with her girls and grandkids, she would pull a nylon over her head and scare them. When she was young, she and a few friends thought it would be fun to tip over outhouses. One night they did just that, and it happened to be occupied. The profanity that came from the small wooden shack would never be forgotten. The kids emerged unscathed, and their identity was never discovered.
She graduated from South Summit High School. She was not out of high school long when she met and married Robert S. Lindsay. They had one daughter, Jennilee, and later divorced. 
Carol left Utah for a new life in Colorado with her young daughter in tow. Carol enjoyed working in Denver until she met a charming, handsome young man at a baseball game in Grand Junction, Colorado. They were married in Denver. Jim actually worked at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. That is where Carol and Jim began to set down roots and raise their family. Jim loved and adored Jennilee as his own. They added two additional girls to their family, Cynthia and Allyson. Carol loved the view of the city from their home in Colorado Springs. Her daily routine was to open the drapes in her living room to a stunning panorama of the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.  
Carol was a talented woman; she sewed all of the girls' clothes and taught Jennilee to sew. Carol also learned to ski so she could take the kids skiing. She would take Cynthia and Allyson out of school to go skiing if their grades were good. It was a great incentive to do well with their studies. 
Carol and Jim loved to entertain and hosted many dinner parties. They would open their home to cadets from the Air Force Academy. There were always missionaries at the table as well. 
Music played a significant role in Carol’s life. She sang in a quartet with some of her dearest friends. She was involved in music at church. She loved highlighting people with talent. She also taught herself to play the organ. She later became an organist in the Denver Temple. After the girls were gone to college, she started taking piano lessons from a Jazz Pianist. She was learning how to improvise and add to the sheet music she was playing.
Carol decided she wanted a little business of her own. She went to beauty school and became licensed as a nail technician. "Beauty in a Basket" was the name she decided on. Carol went to people's homes, mainly older people, and did pedicures. She loved her clients and the relationships that she built with them. 
Due to Jim's health, Carol and Jim said goodbye to Colorado. They wanted to be closer to their girls as Jim faced severe health issues. It was hard to say goodbye to the lifelong friendships that they had made.
They relocated to Peoa, overlooking yet another glorious vista. They immediately formed lasting friendships. Carol made such an impact on people wherever she went. Her quick wit and humor certainly endeared people to her, even if they needed clarification on whether she was being serious or just funny.
Carol was an avid reader. She was always with reading materials. She loved so many different genres of books. She developed a keen interest in investing through her reading, which led to her learning how to use a computer. She became capable in computer literacy; considering her age, it was impressive.  
Carol was always working in her gardens. She loved the soil and grew some beautiful flowers, bushes and trees. Being outdoors gave her strength and brought her much joy. Mom will be first in line if they hand out shovels and garden gloves in heaven. Once again, we are sorry, Dad; you did get a long reprieve from gardening too.
Carol had a strong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was always willing to share it. She loved the Savior. She held many different callings throughout the years. She loved to serve. She and Jim were sealed for Time and All Eternity in the Jordan River Temple.
Her parents, four sisters, and son-in-law Matthew Brickley preceded Carol in death.
She is survived by Jennilee Brown (Reed), Cynthia McComber (Joseph), Allyson Brickley, and Dana Hansen (Linda). Nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
We want to thank Annabella, CNA from Harmony Hospice, Lisa RN and team from Bristol Hospice. Monique, Marcia, Ivan, and all of the many people at The Peaks at South Jordan, for your kindness, love and patience while Mom was in your care. What you do every day is incredible. People need to walk a day in your shoes. Things would change quickly for Geriatric and Memory Care. We will miss you!
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 12:00  at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1224 W State Road 32, Peoa, UT. A viewing will be held that morning before the funeral services beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Peoa Cemetery.