Steen-Frost Family Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameJulian Sem Steen 
Birth27 May 1908, Clinton, Minnesota
Death6 Jul 2008, Golden Valley, Minnesota
Burial11 Jul 2008, Fort Snelling Nat’l Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
OccupationMusic teacher & piano tuner
EducationPark Region Luther College (1927-29); B.A. St. Olaf 1931
Flags#Steens, Linked, Thumbnail, [FamLabel], [Gen09], [GenYes]
FatherOlai Steen (1873-1961)
MotherCaroline Anna Storeim (1877-1964)
Spouses
Birth3 Oct 1914
Death17 Apr 2006
MiscellanyEvelyn’s year of death may not be right
Marriage17 Aug 1939, Duluth, Minnesota
ChildrenJulianne Synnove
Biography notes for Julian Sem Steen
1927-29 Park Region Luther College; sang in Park Region Choir
1929-31 St. Olaf College; sang in St.Olaf Choir
1931-35 Taught music at Circle, Montana
1935-43 Taught music at Miles City,Montana
06/17/39 Married Evelyn Synnove Helgaas (b. 10/03/14)
1943-45 Served in Puerto Rico & Cuba as a chaplain’s assistant in the U.S.Navy during World War II
1946-58 Taught music at Bozeman, Montana
1959-?? Piano Technician, Fairmont, Minnesota
1961-63 Choir director, Grace Lutheran Church, Fairmont, Minnesota
1929-31 St. Olaf College; sang in St.Olaf Choir
1931-35 Taught music at Circle, Montana
1935-43 Taught music at Miles City,Montana
06/17/39 Married Evelyn Synnove Helgaas (b. 10/03/14)
1943-45 Served in Puerto Rico & Cuba as a chaplain’s assistant in the U.S.Navy during World War II
1946-58 Taught music at Bozeman, Montana
1959-?? Piano Technician, Fairmont, Minnesota
1961-63 Choir director, Grace Lutheran Church, Fairmont, Minnesota
Obituary notes for Julian Sem Steen
Julian Sem Steen, age 100, of Golden Valley, Minnesota, passed away on July 6, 2008. Julian was born on May 11, l908 in Clinton, Minnesota. During his career, he was an award-winning high school and junior college band and choir director in Montana. He retired as a piano technician in Fairmont, Minnesota. He held a master's degree in music; composed choral music and delighted in the musical tradition of his alma mater, St. Olaf College. Julian enlisted in the US Navy and proudly served his country during World War II as Chaplain's Assistant.
He is preceded in death by his wife Evelyn and four siblings and is survived by children Julianne (Terry) Zuehlke and Diane (John Olson) Steen-Hinderlie; grandchildren Kirsten (Jim) Zuehlke-Homme, Jeff (Morgan) Zuehlke, Peder & Erik Hinderlie; great-grandchildren Jack, Katie, Natalie & Sarah Homme, two sisters-in-law & many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on July 11, 2008 at Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley, Minn. Interment is at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Steen Early Childhood Fund at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
-- Albin Chapel, Eden Prairie, MN
He is preceded in death by his wife Evelyn and four siblings and is survived by children Julianne (Terry) Zuehlke and Diane (John Olson) Steen-Hinderlie; grandchildren Kirsten (Jim) Zuehlke-Homme, Jeff (Morgan) Zuehlke, Peder & Erik Hinderlie; great-grandchildren Jack, Katie, Natalie & Sarah Homme, two sisters-in-law & many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on July 11, 2008 at Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley, Minn. Interment is at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Steen Early Childhood Fund at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
-- Albin Chapel, Eden Prairie, MN
Notes for Julian Sem Steen
Julian and his sister Beatrice attended Park Region Luther College (a two-year “junior” college) together form 1927 to 1929. They both transfered to St. Olaf where both sang in the St. Olaf choir under F. Melius Christiansen. Both graduated with degrees in music in 1931.
After graduating from St. Olaf, Julian taught music in the publilc schools in three Montana cities: Circle (1931-35), Miles City (1935-43), and Bozeman (1946-58). During 1943-45 he served in the U.S. Navy. Beginning in 1959 he worked as a piano technician in Fairmont, Minnesota, and during 1961-63 he directed the choir at Grace Lutheran church in Fairmont.
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On day Julian who was probably only 10 or 11 was driving four horses hitched to a five- section drag. He was told, by my father, that when he finished the field that he should unhitch the horses from the drag and come home. He evidently misunderstood and proceeded to come home with the horses still hitched to the equipment. He had to cross a barb wire fence that had been lowered to the ground and stapled to the fence posts. Imagine the noise as the teeth of the drag caught the barb wire fence. The horses were spooked and tore down the road at break-neck speed with a 10-year-old unable to cope with the situation. The runaways kept going until they reached a side road that led to the farm. The homing instinct caused the horses to turn onto that road. But the horses whose bridles were strapped to each other didn't quite make it by a telephone pole. Two horses on each side straddled the pole, resulting in an abrupt and violent halt. Julian, still seated on the two wheel cart, yelled for help to untangle the mess.
Ernest B. Steen, “Some Anecdotes from Farm Life” Family Tree, 1981, pp. 19-21.
After graduating from St. Olaf, Julian taught music in the publilc schools in three Montana cities: Circle (1931-35), Miles City (1935-43), and Bozeman (1946-58). During 1943-45 he served in the U.S. Navy. Beginning in 1959 he worked as a piano technician in Fairmont, Minnesota, and during 1961-63 he directed the choir at Grace Lutheran church in Fairmont.
++++++++++
On day Julian who was probably only 10 or 11 was driving four horses hitched to a five- section drag. He was told, by my father, that when he finished the field that he should unhitch the horses from the drag and come home. He evidently misunderstood and proceeded to come home with the horses still hitched to the equipment. He had to cross a barb wire fence that had been lowered to the ground and stapled to the fence posts. Imagine the noise as the teeth of the drag caught the barb wire fence. The horses were spooked and tore down the road at break-neck speed with a 10-year-old unable to cope with the situation. The runaways kept going until they reached a side road that led to the farm. The homing instinct caused the horses to turn onto that road. But the horses whose bridles were strapped to each other didn't quite make it by a telephone pole. Two horses on each side straddled the pole, resulting in an abrupt and violent halt. Julian, still seated on the two wheel cart, yelled for help to untangle the mess.
Ernest B. Steen, “Some Anecdotes from Farm Life” Family Tree, 1981, pp. 19-21.