Deb Marie Stevens

Deborah “Deb” Marie (Reed) Stevens, age 66, passed away peacefully on June 21st, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones.

Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday June 30, 2023, at Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday at Mankato Mortuary and one hour before the service at the church on Friday.

Deb was born in Mankato, MN on June 30, 1956 to Ray and Cleo Reed, the fourth of eight children. Deb grew up on a farm outside of Mankato, then moved into town before she graduated from Mankato East High School in 1974. She met her husband, Ed in High School and they married on April 9th, 1976. 

Deb placed a high importance on family and took on roles to be close to her children. She had been an in-home daycare provider and often volunteered in her children’s classrooms. She then worked for ISD 77 in food service for 9 years. Deb started at Carlson Craft in 2000 where she worked for 20 years until her diagnosis. 

Deb loved spending time with friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and often was found to be “at lunch with the ladies”. She and Ed enjoyed playing cards with many of their friends. Deb also deeply appreciated her quiet time watching the flowers in her garden grow. She and Ed were looking forward to more traveling opportunities to come.

Deb was undeniably kindhearted, generous, and loving to everyone who knew her. She was a mother figure and one of her greatest joys was being around her grandchildren. She cherished each phase as they grew and traveled to be in the crowd to support their interests. Deb was incredibly proud of her family and was an unwavering presence. Her love and devotion for her family created treasured memories that will be shared for generations to come. 

Deb’s contributions were felt far and wide. She is described as a woman of strength, courage, resiliency, faith, unselfishness, commitment, optimism, love, and happiness. She was consistent and dependable; a role model who made an impactful difference in the lives of many. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Cleo Reed; her in-laws, Donna and Norman Stevens; sister-in-law, Katie Reed (Kindler); sister-in-law, Eileen Mashek (Stevens) and husband, Kenny Mashek; sister-in-law, Lynda Stevens; and her preterm infant granddaughter.

Survived by her husband, Ed of Eagle Lake; three children, Tina (Bryan) Cornell Eyota, MN Tony Stevens Eagle Lake, Tracy (David) Matykiewicz of Mendota Heights; three grandchildren, Luke, Jacob, and Emmalyn; seven siblings, Mike (Shel Goerke) Reed, Ron (Kathy) Reed, Jim (Barb) Reed, Pam Reed, Vicki Reed, Bob Reed, Dave Reed, Cathy Neuhring, Jeanie Shoemaker, Eugene Stevens, Mike (Gretchen) Stevens, Sharon Bleess, and Norm (Anita) Stevens, nieces, nephews, and cousins.