Mildred Marie Steeves

Mildred Marie (Zugmier) Steeves, 101, of Topeka, formally of Emporia passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026. She was born in Thayer, Kansas, October 17th, 1924 to George W. and Alta (Fleming) Zugmier. She was raised on farms in the Thayer area and graduated from Thayer High School. Mildred met Forrest A Steeves during that time and they were married at Fredonia, Kansas on January 21, 1942. From that point on they built a life together over 68 years until Forrest’s death in 2010. That life was not just for them but for their two children, Nancy and Barry.

During WWII years and into the 1950s they, like many in their generation, made the move from the farm life into town, where they began raising their family in Chanute, KS., with Mildred helping establish a successful electrical contracting business while both were involved in various community organizations -- Jaycees, Kiwanis and Beta Sigma Phi sorority ­­-- along with myriad school activities for both children. Also during that time they built a new house, a perfect expression of the mid-century modern family.

The 1960s found the family moving to Emporia where eventually they started another electrical contracting business. Mildred worked as a bookkeeper for Steeves Electric, was also part owner of a fabric shop with Marla Bugbee and then worked in the Home Economics department at Emporia High School, retiring in 1986. Through all these endeavors Mildred was unfailingly kind and always ready to offer help. She was often the first listener to everyone’s troubles while equally the leader in celebrating the good times. Mildred loved nothing more than having all her family together and was, to boil it down to a single phrase, a genuinely nice person.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, step mother Sylvia Zugmier, sisters June E. Day and Helen A. Bonar, and half-brother Richard Zugmier. Survivors are her daughter Nancy Fuqua and her husband Jerry Fuqua, son Barry Steeves and his wife Rosemary Schmidt, grandchildren Malee Lynn and husband Denny Lynn, and Mitch Fuqua and wife Danelle Fuqua, great grandchildren Connor Lynn and his wife Mattie Lynn and Kate Lynn, Kinley, Brynn and Maura Fuqua, brother George A. Zugmier and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mildred was a member of First Christian Church of Emporia, DWF and Beta Sigma Phi sorority.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2026 at Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd, Topeka, KS 66610. The family invites you join them for a reception following the celebration. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Alta Fleming Zugmier Teacher Education Scholarship at Pittsburg State University, here, or First Christian Church of Emporia, 1702 W 15th Ave, Emporia, KS 66801.