When Maria Stephenson was born on 27 September 1862, in Lanesboro, Fillmore, Minnesota, United States, her father, John Andreas Steffensen, was 35 and her mother, Haakine Haakonsdatter Pederson, was 36. She married Hans John Svare on 16 June 1890. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Tansem Township, Clay, Minnesota, United States for about 5 years and Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail, Minnesota, United States for about 5 years. She died on 2 August 1946, in Bemidji, Beltrami, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail, Minnesota, United States.