LaVern Dean Steiger was born in Leola, SD on May 16, 1926 to Lawrence Steiger and Martha (Maas) Steiger.

Steig grew up on a farm north of Winner.  He was drafted into the Navy in January 1944 when he was a senior in high school.  He served two years during World War II and was stationed on a ship off Cuba.  After he finished military duty he received his high school diploma as a member of the class of 1945.

It was Steig's mother, Martha, who thought he should go to barber school.  He went to school in Des Moines, Iowa.  While in school he married Donna Garrison who was from Presho, SD but working as a beautician in Winner..

The barber college was a six-month program.  There were 10 in his class.  He estimated he cut 100 haircuts a week, plus attending classes.  He finished school on January 9, 1949.  He returned to Winner and served as an apprentice for two years at the Antiseptic Barber Shop under Ed Koenig and Harold Ebert.    Haircuts were $1 and a shave was 50 cents.  When he retired September 18, 2009, a shave was $5 and haircuts were $12.

After finishing his apprenticeship, he moved to Mission in 1951 with his wife Donna and three children.  He barbered and his first wife Donna (Garrison) had a beauty shop.  He always felt that going to Mission was the best thing he ever did.  The customers from Mission and Rosebud followed him to Winner.

In August of 1955, he moved back to Winner.  He bought out Leo Donatino's half of a barber partnership. Donatino was in partnership with Del Thomas.  Thomas sold his share to Carley Kindt when Kindt returned from Omaha.  Steig bought out Carley when Carley went into partnership with his father who was a Tripp County rancher.

In 1962, Steiger moved into the building that was the old Peacock Bar until his retirement Steig barbered in the same location.  Ivan Bortz worked for Steig for 15 years from 1970 on, Steig worked by himself.  He barbered for 61 years.

Steig loved his profession and his customers.  Customers always knew he was open when they would look to see if the barber pole was on.  He saw many changes in hair style, from the Elvis Presley duck tail, to the 50's and 60's flat tops, to years of long hair and the era of perms.

Steig had  many colorful stories to tell about what transpired in the barber shop over the decades.  The news of the world and Winner was solved within the walls of the shop.  And many said that news was "gospel" because they heard it in the barber shop.

Someone he often mentioned was Charlie Sturgis, a former Mayor of Winner.  Sturgis came in everyday for a shave, often times saying he needed one on Sundays.  Jack Bailey, Al "Candy" Hermsen and Paul Goodwin were a few others who came in every day.

Steiger was a strong supporter of youth and sports his entire life.  George Drapeaux and Steig started the Pee Wee Baseball League which is now called the Rosebud Little League.  Steig also supported the Quarterback Club and attended sporting activities until he entered long term care.

He was a lifetime member of the Mason's, the VFW, the American Legion and the Elks Club and also a member of the United Methodist Church.  He was a founding member of the Winner Elk's Club and had over 70 years of continuous membership in the American Legion.

Steig's first wife, Donna died in 1976.  In 1981 he married Donna (Bittner) Kindt.  Who had four adult children: Bobbe (Tom) Schramm, Donita Kindt, Guyla (Kevin) Hohn and Monte Kindt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first and second wives, his brothers DeLane and Kenneth Steiger, nephew Richard Steiger, niece Deborah Steiger, and stepson Monte Kindt.

Steig is survived by his children, Larry Steiger and his children Michaela (Nate) Cina and Weston Steiger all of Gillette, WY, Linda Steiger of Winner and Connie (Gary) Christensen and son Logan (Samantha) all of Winner, and his sister Shirley Steiger of Phoenix, sister-in-law Maxine Steiger and nephew Rocky (Brenda) Steiger of Sturgis.  Step-children Bobbe (Tom) Schramm and their children Barry (Haley) Schramm, Holly (Heath) Eggleton, Guyla (Kevin) Hohn and their children Josh (Becca) Hohn, Tanya (Rob) Palmer,  Monte Kindt children, Donny (Suzy) Kindt, Nick Kindt, and Zack (RaChel) Kindt, Donita Kindt of Custer, and numerous great-grandchildren