Ada Carol Pearson Steenhoek
1939 ~ 2011

Ada Carol Pearson Steenhoek, 72, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, peacefully passed away on November 28, 2011 from cancer after enjoying the Thanksgiving Holiday surrounded by her husband, her nine children and their spouses and her 36 grandchildren in Highland, UT.

Ada Carol was born on March 7, 1939 in Rapid City, South Dakota as the oldest child to Irvin and Winifred Pearson. When she was a young child, Ada Carol’s family moved to Hurricane, Utah, where she spent her youth, and eventually to Clearfield, Utah, where she graduated from Davis High School. While attending Brigham Young University, Ada met and fell in love with her sweetheart, Henry E. Steenhoek Jr. (Hank), who was then a member of the United States Air Force. They were married on December 23, 1960, shortly after Hank had been baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple one year later.

Ada dedicated her life to following Jesus Christ and serving Him through serving others. She was truly a ‘force of nature’. Her tireless service and constant flurry of activities to improve herself and help others do the same blessed the lives of everyone in her path. She was a friend to all, and she diligently sought out and ministered to those in need. Through her generous efforts and influence, she uplifted, encouraged and helped others.

Ada was a woman of legendary energy, accomplishments and leadership. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, teaching and exemplifying the Gospel of Jesus Christ to her beautiful children. Her four sons and two of her daughters served full-time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and all of her surviving children were sealed to their spouses in an LDS temple. Ada Carol actively served in various church callings throughout her life. She particularly loved to teach the Gospel. After her children were grown, she and Hank turned their focus to family history and temple work, serving for over five years in the Los Angeles Temple, and missionary work, serving a full-time mission from 2008-2010 in the England Manchester Mission. Ada was an education enthusiast. She was a stay-at-home mom until all her children were in school, at which time she began her 23 year teaching career. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Weber State College, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Utah State University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from National University and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Management from the University of La Verne. Additionally, Ada Carol served on the Board of Trustees of Cerritos College for twelve years and was the Department Chair of Special Education for National University. She passed this love for education on to her children as eight of them have Bachelor’s Degrees and five of them have Master’s Degrees. Ada Carol was an avid scouter. All four of her boys were Eagle Scouts, and she served in leadership roles in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for 22 years, including serving as the Frontier District Chairman in Los Angeles, California for two years. For her dedicated service to scouting, Ada Carol was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award, one of scouting’s highest honors. She also served in Brownies with her five daughters for 14 years. Ada was active in her community. She served as Chairman of the Downey Heart Association for two years and Chairman of the Master Symphony Orchestra for four years and was awarded The Woman of the Year award for her district by the California State Legislature in 1989. In her limited spare time, Ada’s favorite hobbies were scrapbooking, sewing, reading and traveling. Ada used her many talents and abilities to unconditionally love and to selflessly give. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Survived by her husband of 51 years, Henry E. Steenhoek Jr.; nine children: Daniel (Pamela), Paul (Heidi), Teresa Almond (Matthew), Debra Shaw (Marvin), Stephen (Shannon), Patricia Birchall (Nathan), David (Heidi), Shauna Erickson (Michael), Cynthia Hermen (Mark); and 36 grandchildren. Preceded in death by daughter Lisa Carol, brother Boyd Pearson and her mother and father, Winifred Smith Pearson and Irvin Brown Pearson. Funeral services will held Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Highland 27th LDS Ward Chapel, 6411 West 11800 North, Highland, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment, Clearfield City Cemetery, 1050 S. State, Clearfield, Utah at 3:00 p.m