Arlyss L. Steven, 89
Formerly of Delavan – We are saddened and heartbroken to share news of the passing of our beloved mom Arlyss Lorraine Steven, 89, of Concord, California. She passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026, attended and comforted by her family and hospice care.
Arlyss was born on Sept. 7, 1936, to Bruce and Della Springer in Delavan, MN. She was raised on the family farm with two younger sisters – Karen and Roberta, and two younger brothers – Leroy and Wallace. She graduated from Delavan High school in 1954.
Her strength and caring nature led her to a career in nursing. Arlyss graduated from the Naeve Nursing School in Albert Lea, MN, and became a registered nurse. Soon after she married Neil Lloyd Steven in 1957, and they began their life together in Albert Lea.
Arlyss experienced great loss at a young age when she was widowed at just 24 years old, left to raise three young children after the passing of the love of her life, Neil. With courage and determination, she began a new chapter for herself and her children, moving to California with her cousin, Jeannine O’Neil, following her parents and her brother Wally.
She dedicated more than 30 years of her life to caring for others as an RN at the VA Hospital in Martinez, California. Her work reflected the compassion, strength, and generosity that she carried throughout her life.
While her career was an important part of her life, so were the friendships she made along the way. Arlyss formed lifelong friendships with coworkers and through senior center events, game groups, and other activities. She valued the companionship and laughter that came from those connections, and many of her friendships remained special throughout the years.
Arlyss also had a lifelong love of baseball and was a devoted fan of both the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s. She was a lover of birds, with a particular fondness for hummingbirds. She also loved sweets and would always have them hiding in plain sight for visitors to enjoy. These simple joys, along with time spent with family and friends, brought her happiness and became part of the many memories those close to her will treasure.
Arlyss was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her son, Jeff (Lisa) Steven; her daughters, Jolene (Eric) Genetti and JoAnn LaMar with Jim Bonslett; her granddaughter, Roxanne (Gavin) Licht and her grandsons, Casey and Jack Steven.
Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren, Colton, Olivia, and Rhett Licht. Family was always an important part of Arlyss’s life. She will be lovingly remembered for the special moments, traditions, stories, and memories shared with the people she loved.
Arlyss lived a full and meaningful life, marked by love, resilience, dedication, and an enduring commitment to her family. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved her, in the friendships she cherished, in the generations of family she leaves behind, and in the many lives she touched throughout her beautiful 90 trips around the sun.
A gravesite service will be held on Sept. 5, 2026, at Rice Lake Cemetery in Delavan, MN. A celebration of her life will follow at a venue in Blue Earth.