Letha Loree Steinauer

Letha Loree Steinauer, 91, of Mason City, IA, passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Homestead Assisted Living in Mason City. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Major Erickson Funeral Home at 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce Ave., Mason City, with Pastor Kip Murphy officiating. Interment will follow immediately afterwards in the Elmwood-St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to First Presbyterian Church. 

To watch Letha's service live, click here: Funeral Service of Letha Steinauer

Letha grew up in Nebraska, with her early years spent in the Hickman, Nebraska area and later school years in Bennett, Nebraska. She was the daughter of a teacher and a bricklayer. As the daughter of a teacher, education would be a constant part of her life. After graduating from Bennett High School, she went to secretarial school and became a secretary in Lincoln, NE. Living in Lincoln, she won dance lessons at the Arthur Murray dance studio. Even though her instructor originally tried to set Letha up with his brother, John Steinauer would ultimately sweep Letha off her feet, and they were married for over 65 years. Being involved with her children’s lives was incredibly important to Letha, especially when it came to their education, athletics, and activities. She volunteered at Madison Elementary School for 20 years, helping children learn to read. She then worked as a para educator until the age of 70. Even after “retiring,” she was still often found volunteering in schools. She was also heavily involved with the Girl Scouts for many years, and she enjoyed helping with the costuming of musical productions at Newman High School while her children were attending. She loved and supported her children and grandchildren through attendance at every sporting event, musical event, and school celebration. Family truly was the centerpiece of her life, and she relished trips to Nebraska and across the United States to gather with extended family. Throughout her life, she enjoyed playing the piano, ceramics, traveling, puzzles of all kinds, watching sports, and reading.

She is survived by her daughter, Tracy Thomsen and grandsons, Brett (Hannah Lorenzen) and Bridger Thomsen; her other daughter, Kerry Balk and grandchildren, Joshua Balk, Elizabeth (Joe) Stitz, and Shannon (Cody) Walker; and her son, Tim (Monica) Steinauer and grandchildren Laura (Austin) Dinnes and Sarah (Matt) Hanowski, and great grandchildren Remi Stitz, Sterling Walker, Barrett Stitz, Addie Dinnes, Lainey Dinnes, Ruben Walker, and Mallory Hanowski were also a blessing to Letha.

Letha was preceded in death by her husband, John Steinauer, parents, Gary and Sylvia Roeder, her brother, Merwin Roeder, and her great-granddaughter, Leighton Dinnes.