Margaret Diane (Kraus) Stevens

Margaret Diane Kraus Stevens, also known as Maggie, passed away Thursday July 20, 2023, due to recent health issues. Maggie was born to Edward and Pauline (Weimer) Kraus in View, Idaho on August 2, 1944. She was raised and attended schools in the Mini-Cassia area graduating from Minico High School. During high school she volunteered at Minidoka Memorial Hospital with one of her best friends and future sister-in-law Penny Stevens Scheel. Maggie was introduced to Penny’s older brother Edward: the two became very good friends and went on several dates. She was offered a scholarship to attend Boise Jr College, now known as Boise State University. On graduation day Edward drove Maggie back to Rupert. On the way home Edward pulled off the side of the road at the Burley exit and proposed. On July 15, 1967, Edward and Maggie were married at Trinity Lutheran church in Rupert. The Following June in 1968  brought Maggie one of the greatest gifts and joys of her life. The birth of her son Edward Michael. Later Maggie and Edward divorced but always remained great friends till the end of his life. With the divorce Maggie decided to leave Rupert and move to Boise to work at the hospitals there and finally Mercy Medical Center in Nampa. During this time Maggie and Michael Moved to Middleton, Idaho where Maggie became a member of the First United Methodist Church. While at this church Maggie wrote a monthly newsletter called The Messenger. She also wrote and directed several plays persuading the youth to help her out. This included her futher daughter in law Rachel. Besides writhing plays and stories Maggie loved to draw, paint, and write. She also loved to travel. She enjoyed a cruise with her mother and sister and a trip with her mom to Hawaii. Trips with her son to the Oregon Coast and later various trips with Michael and his family. During Maggie’s career she worked in a variety of departments closing out her nursing career as department head of discharge planning. While figuring out what was next, a blue-eyed baby named Lane came into her life along with his mother Rachel, the same girl she had known over the years through church. Rachel, as a single mom now, needed help with childcare when Maggie found this out, she jumped at the chance to offer help. At the same time her son Michael was curious about the mother of this baby and came to church. Michael was reintroduced to Rachael two years later, in July 1997 Michael and Rachel were married. Maggie was thrilled she gained not only a daughter in law but also became an instant grandma. She loved being a grandma more than anything and was beyond the moon when her grandson’s Noah and Paul were born. Maggie enjoyed throwing an annual Easter Egg Hunt that brought all the family together. She also enjoyed shopping and lunch trips with her daughter-in-law so they could have girl time. In late 2007 Michael’s family moved to Rupert and Maggie decided to after a short time it was too far to be away from her son’s family. Maggie moved back to Rupert in the spring of 2008. During this time, she attended Rupert United Methodist church and volunteered with the Demary Library being a board member Minidoka Historical Museum, Minidoka County Fair at the antique building, and with Open Hearts Food Pantry. She spent as much time as she with her family enjoying all the celebrations and holidays, but extra special time with her grandsons including Saturday visits and daily video phone calls. Until recently Maggie loved living independently and rarely asked for help. Maggie will be sorely missed by all her loved ones. Maggie is survived by her son Edward Michael Stevens, daughter-in-law Rachel, grandsons Lane, Noah, Paul, Her sister Patricia Kraus and brother-in-law Roger King, brother Dennis Kraus, brother and sister-in-law Lon and Brenda Kraus. Sister-in-law Betty Krause, brother-in-law Phillip Schell, brother, and sister-in-law Martha Stevens Several cousins, nieces, and nephews especially her nephew Hank and his family Brandy, Audrey and Scott who she had a very special bond with. Rachel’s parents Paul and Julana Hedt and brother Wesley and family Jill, Anna and Joe Maggie is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents in law, her form husband and friend Edward, her brother Thomas Kraus, her sister in laws Penny Stevens Scheel, Marie Stevens Lee, Faye Kraus and nephew David Vance.

The Family would like to thank all who helped with the care of Maggie in her final days. The family especially would like to thank all the staff from Minidoka County who have supported her son during this time and all the family and friends who have offered kind words of encouragement and support

Arrangements are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary

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