On Jan. 11, 2019, Irma Elena Hip Araya Steger, 88, died peacefully at Eureka Springs Hospital. After a short two-day battle with pneumonia, her heart failed.
Irma was born July 11, 1930 in Antofagasta, Chile, S.A. She married Charles Stanley Steger, Sr., in 1950 in Chile and later moved with him to Los Angeles, Calif. in 1953 where they reared three children, Suzan, Charles and Carol.
In 1964 after a move to De Queen, Ark., she worked many years as a supervisor for Baldwin Piano and Organ Co. and as a Spanish interpreter for the Arkansas State Health Department. She helped many and was beloved by the Hispanic community in De Queen.
Irma loved sewing and knitting clothing for her children. In De Queen, she was an active member of the First Christian Church. In 2005, she moved to Eureka Springs, Ark., where she built a house on the property of her daughter Suzan and son-in law, Dan Bell.
In Eureka Springs she served as an interpreter for ECHO Clinic and lovingly knitted hundreds of dishcloths for the ECHO Thrift store, where she also volunteered. She never lost her sense of humor and even when Alzheimer’s disease slowly took her memory, she was always upbeat and always kept her deep abiding faith.
Irma was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Sr. and Dominga Hip, brother Jose Hip, Jr., sister Sara Hip Carvajal, and husband Charles Stanley Steger, Sr.
Irma is survived by her her dear sister, Elsa Araya Hip Guzman, and three loving children, Suzan Steger Bell (husband Dan) of Eureka Springs, Ark., Charles Steger, Jr., of Cave Springs, Ark., and Carol Steger Crowell (husband John) of Columbus, Miss. She was blessed with five grandchildren, Sumer Steger Dupree (husband Darren) of Elk City, Okla., April Blaine (husband Martin) of Columbus, Ohio, Beau Bell of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Ian Turner (wife Lindsay) of Newnan, Ga., Rebekah Bell of Playa del Rey, Calif., and Mollye Crowell Spitler (husband Glenn) of Greenville, S.C. Irma leaves behind six precious great grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by a number of nieces and nephews in Chile, S.A.
She loved to laugh, had a joyful spirit and was a friend to all she met. Irma never met a cheeseburger or a cookie she did not love! She dearly loved the U.S. and always commented on how blessed she was to be here. In her later years she became a tenacious domino player and rightfully earned the title of “domino hustler.” Her infectious spirit enamored all she met and she leaves behind numerous friends who loved her.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Irma’s memory may be made to Eureka Christian Health Outreach (“ECHO”), 4004 East Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR 72632.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 22, 2019 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 195 Huntsville Rd., Eureka Springs. A light brunch will follow. In memory of Irma everyone is asked to wear pink, her favorite color.