The Funeral Service for Ethel E. Steele, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pickerel Lake.
The Rev. Wendy Anderson will officiate. Interment will be at Concordia
Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, 2210 E. Main St., Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.
Ethel died on Friday morning, Aug. 28, 2009, at Thorne Crest Retirement Community, health care wing where she has been a resident for the past six years. She was 88.
She was born on Aug. 18, 1921, in Foster Township, Faribault County, the daughter of Jessie and Luella (Miller) Urbain. She attended schools near Wells, and then began providing domestic help for several area homes.
On Nov. 19, 1942, she married Norman Steele at the Rice Lake Evangelical Church. Together, they lived, farmed and raised their family in the Alden, Glenville, and later the Albert Lea area. She enjoyed gardening, canning and helping with all aspects of farm work throughout the years.
Ethel was strong in her faith and had been a very active participant at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pickerel Lake. She served on the Church Council as financial secretary, was Sunday School Teacher for many years and also enjoyed being active with the church women. Ethel and Norman were one of the originators of the church’s annual soup and pie supper. With many helping hands, the tradition has continued for 26 years. Their specialty soup was oyster stew.
As her children were growing up, she was very active in the 4-H as a key leader, as well as a volunteer at the Freeborn County Fair in many capacities, including working in the Floral Hall for several years.
After Ethel and Norman “retired,” she resumed house cleaning for various area homes and businesses.
Ethel loved to “babysit” and spoil her grandchildren, have people over to visit and show her love and affection by sharing her awesome home cooking.
Ethel will be greatly missed by her family: children, Dennis Steele of Prattville, Ala., Cindy and her husband Allan Wichmann of Albert Lea; daughter-in-law, Ginny Steele of Plymouth; grandchildren, Craig (Nisha) Steele of Carmel, Ind., Kevin (Beth) Steele of LaGrange, Ill., Joseph (Elke) Steele of Germany, Cathy (Billy) Gomes of California, Colette Eggebraaten of California, Craig Eggebraaten of California, Maria (Adam) Schultz of Shoreview, Lisa (Jason) Christianson of Colorado Springs, Colo., Dale Smith and Ashley Smith of Plymouth; great-grandchildren, Madeline and Jessica Steele, Claire and Elise Steele, Steffi Coppock, MacKenzie, Savannah and Alexandria Steele, Ashjian, Laurel and Makenna Nichols, Caydon Eggebraaten, Ashlyn and Caleb Christianson; great-great-granddaughters, Lilyanna and Lila Nichols; brother Orville (Lorraine) Urbain of Walters; brother-in-law, Merlin Steele of Albert Lea; sister-in-law, Millie Steele of Windom and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Norman, son Gary Steele, daughter-in-law Carla Steele, sister and brother-in-law Arvilla and Clarence Anderson, sister-in-law Lois Steele and brother-in-law Lemoyne Steele.
Blessed be her memory!