In the predawn hours of October 26, 2026, Linda Kay (Steinblock) France peacefully entered the Lord’s Kingdom with her daughter at her side. She died at Falls City Nursing and Rehab in Falls City, Nebraska. The oldest daughter of Karl and Adela (Fiegener) Steinblock. She was born November 12, 1948, at Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice, Nebraska. In 1954, her family moved to a farm south of Dawson and then in 1963, the family moved again to a house at the south end of Dawson. Linda went to K-12th grade at the school in Dawson where she graduated in 1968. After high school she attended Nebraska City Beauty School and received her state license to be a Beautician in 1969. Linda went to work at Pat’s Styling Salon in Falls City and worked there until the spring of 1973. Then she operated her own shop in Dawson until December 1976. From 1978-1986 Linda worked at Mildred’s Hair Salon in Humboldt and resigned to spend more at home with her family.
On February 16, 1974, Linda married Steven B. France at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dawson, Nebraska by Fr. Nicholas Baker, and to this union was born Elizabeth Renee and John Blaine. Steve and Linda raised their family in Dawson and attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church until September 1989. Then they moved to Falls City where they still reside. There they became members of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Falls City. Her faith was very important to her.
Linda cleaned St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Parish Hall and helped with the mowing of the church yard and cemetery for years before moving. In 1992, she was hired by Fr. Robert Roh to clean Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church and Parish Hall. She was the janitor for 25 years. Linda was always busy. She had a big garden and canned everything she could get her hands on. Her jelly was legendary. Linda was not afraid of work and helped family bale hay in the summers, did hair on the side for close friends and family, lawn mowing, house cleaning, and other odd jobs She reluctantly retired due to her health. Linda was diagnosed with scoliosis in 1999, and Parkinson’s in 2019. She would not use her disability as an excuse and never complained about any ache or pain. Linda loved spending time with her grandkids and supporting them in their activities. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, big band and country music, cooking, watching Nebraska or the Chiefs play football, and the Royals play baseball.
Linda was a member of St. Mary’s Altar Society, Sts. Peter and Paul’s PCCW, and Catholic Daughters’ holding many offices in each of those groups. She was a regular volunteer for the Rolling Food Pantry until she was physically incapable of helping and for the Sts. Peter and Paul’s Bingo Program until it closed. Linda was a constant volunteer at SENCA. While living in Dawson she would go to Humboldt and help prepare food boxes for commodity distribution. Then after she moved to Falls City, she joined the SENCA Advisory Board in the mid 90’s and helped assemble and distribute food boxes during the holidays. At her death she was the President of the SENCA Advisory Board. Linda was also a member of the Albany Antique Car and Engine Club and served as secretary for many years until the group dissolved.
Linda is preceded in death by her grandparents George and Antje (Rickers) Steinblock, and Godfrey and Caroline (Forst) Fiegener, her parents Karl and Adela (Fiegener) Steinblock, and sister and brother-in-law Ruth (Joe) Bame, sister Darlene (Steinblock) Reuter, father and mother-in-law Don and Chloerene Mayer, brother-in-law Terry France, and nephews Jesse and Cody France.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Steve, of the home, daughter Elizabeth (Bob) Drummond, Fall City; son John “J.B.”, of the home, her grandkids Renee and Justin Drummond, Falls City; brother Kris Steinblock, Humboldt, NE; sister Rose (Dan) Goodman, Mayetta, KS; sister Rita (Steve) Walker, Beatrice, NE; sister in-law Sharon Olson, Buford, GA; sister in-law Mary France, Gardner, KS; brother and sister-in-law Jerry and Carla Standerford, Omaha, NE, brother-in-law, Andy France, Savannah, MO; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dawson, Nebraska with Father James Meysenburg officiating. Interment will immediately follow Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Dawson.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Wherry Mortuary, 207 N. Nemaha Street in Humboldt, Nebraska. Family will greet friends from 7-8 p.m. at the mortuary in Humboldt. A Catholic Daughters’ and Church Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Falls City, Nebraska.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the St. Mary’s Grandparents Program at Sacred Heart Schools.
Condolences can be shared online at www.wherrymortuary.com
Services entrusted to Wherry Mortuary-207 Nemaha St-Humboldt, NE 68376 (402) 862-2915
