Eveline Belle Keppel (June 18, 1863 - January 5, 1951) is best known for converting her husband’s killer to the Seventh Day Adventist religion from his prison cell.

Eveline was born and raised in Iowa before marrying Frank Steunenberg and moving west to Caldwell, Idaho. Frank was a well known and well liked businessman in the community. Eveline’s brother ran the Caldwell Tribune and Frank joined the publication and partnered with his brother-in-law by the end of 1886. Frank quickly went into politics and served in the Idaho constitutional convention, state legislature, and as governor until his death in 1905. Frank was assassinated by Harry Orchard on December 30th. During the trials, Eveline started sending religious pamphlets and materials to Orchard while he waited in jail. He was found guilty of the crime of murdering Frank Steunenberg, but that did not dissuade Eveline from her goal. She visited Harry in the Old State Penitentiary where he was sentenced and called on him to convert to the Adventist Church where she was a loyal member. Harry, impressed by her forgiveness and persistence, did chose to convert to the Seventh Day Adventist religion. Harry went on to be a model prisoner and served as a missionary to his fellow inmates.

Eveline, meanwhile, chose to move to California in 1921 where her children - Julian, Frank W., and Francis Eastman - chose to remain even after her death. She died at the age of 87 in Anguin, California but asked to be buried in her beloved Caldwell, Idaho in the end.

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All information was discovered through the Special Collections and Archives at Boise State University. For more information visit their online collection or their offices located in the Albertson's Library on BSU's campus.