Michelle Jean Steinert, age 56, lost a three-year fight with cancer at 10:40 p.m. Thursday, July 19, 2012, in her home surrounded by the pride and joy of her life – her five grown children. She was born July 22, 1955, in El Dorado, Kansas, the daughter of Darrell Bellew and Mary Pickett.
Michelle’s life and character of modesty, simplicity and pure love is perpetuated in the caring souls of her children, all of whom cherish the time they had with their mother in her final months. Her children echoed back the kind, comforting words Michelle so frequently repeated, “We love you with all our hearts. Sweet dreams.”
Michelle spent most of her career working as a respiratory therapist at various hospitals in central Kansas, where she was a lifelong resident.
She married Don Steinert on March 26, 1973. She spent the last eight years with her loving partner Gary Bauer.
She is survived by her father and stepmother, Darrell and Janet Bellew of Salina; sons Brian, 38, of McPherson, and Brandon, 25, of Great Bend; daughters Brenda Pflughoeft, 34, of Claflin, Breanne, 23, of Kansas City, and Brandy, 21, of Hays; partner Gary Bauer of Great Bend; sister Donna Drew and brothers Kelly and Larry Leaser; grandsons Nelson and Corbin Steinert and Ben and Brody Pflughoeft; granddaughters Mikaela and Johanna Steinert and Erika Gisick.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Pickett, and grandson Lane Pflughoeft.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Kevin Baxter officiating. Burial will follow at Claflin Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas or Susan G. Komen for the cure in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146; 415 North Main
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 22, 2012