Elder Interview-Lillie Steffes
A.2008.001.445 PP
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Lillie SteffesEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.445Tags
Missing, Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Steffes, Lillie Jane (Thomas) Born 02/01/1944 Parents: Van Roy Leslie and Rosetta (Coulon) Thomas Maternal grandparents: Sherman and Angeline Coulon Paternal grandparents: Wesley and Lillie Thomas She didn’t know her grandpa Thomas, because he had passed away before she was born. She knew her grandparents on the Counon side because she stays with them a couple of summers in Milwaukee. Her grandma Thomas lived in Green Bay on Hazelwood La. Her grandma had a small garden in the back yard As far as she can remember her grandma didn’t go to work anywhere. She thinks her grand graduated high school but she doesn’t know which school she attended. Her grandma had running water and electricity. Her grandma Coenen lived in Milwaukee. Her grandma Coenen spoke the Oneida Language. Her grandparents didn’t go to Church. Her grandma was a home maker. When her dad was small he didn’t like school to much so he went to work on farms here in Oneida. When her parents got married they lived where the casino is now. Then they moved on Overland dr. Her mother always had a garden. When she was small they didn’t have running water or electricity. On Sundays they went to church at the Lutheran Church, after church her mother made a Sunday dinner. Her chores were to clean the house and help in the garden. On Christmas her aunt and uncle would bring them Christmas gifts from Milwaukee. She remembers going hoyoning on New Years Day. On Easter the kids got new clothing and hats. As far as she can remember her dad always had a car. Her dad was a Stevedore he works on the boats all his life he died working on the boats. Her dad would go and pick some kind of leaves to make some tea for the ones who was sick. She started going to school at Beauty Grove School, then she went to West De Pere High School. When she was young she likes to go skating and play football, basketball, baseball, and kickball. After she graduated from high school in 1962, she went to Milwaukee to fine work but she didn’t like any of the jobs she had so she came back to Oneida. She got married to Robert Steffes in 2 / 18 / 1967; they had 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She stayed at home until all the kids were old enough to stay in school all day. Then she started working in the kitchen at the Oneida Bingo Hall; she worked there until she was 46 years old then she retired. Her advice to the youth is to stay in school and get a good educated and go to church.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media