The phone rang. As an nine year old, I rarely answered, but everyone was outside working that Saturday afternoon and I had come into the house for a drink of water. I answered and on the other end of the phone, a woman with a thick swiss accent whispered….”the border patrol is here!”…..and hung up. Mrs. Steiner, egg rancher, wife of Charley, mother, neighbor, faithful believer, 4-H leader. Her brownies were as famous as her Swiss Mountain View Egg Ranch, and her voice and presence was one that any 4-Her in the 80’s and 90’s in Ramona knew well. She was Maria to my mother and other adults, but to me she was always Mrs. Steiner, even as a mother to my own children visiting her ranch some years back. My own kids have heard stories of my experiences packing eggs, babysitting the Steiner kids and all important conversations laced with my own attempts to call my loved ones “schatzi". Her impressions, her influence on those around her was great. She was kind, direct, caring. She was Mrs. Steiner, and though gone from the body, her spirit is present in all whom she loved and I will never forget her. Debora (Watkins) Huff