Dorothy Steele

Dorothy Mollie Steele, 89, passed away Saturday June 20, 2009, in Kirkland, Wash. She was born on March 27, 1920, in Hope, N.D., to Andrew and Augusta Nygaard.

She graduated from Hope High School in June 1938 as an honor student. After graduating Dorothy moved to Ellensburg, Wash., and lived with her aunt. Working as a waitress at a local "hip" diner, she caught the eye of former coal miner turned grocer named Albert Mitchell Steele II. They were married on Aug. 17, 1941, at First Lutheran Church in Ellensburg. After living briefly in Walla Walla, Wash., the family moved to Tacoma where Dorothy worked at a meat packing plant.

The family moved to Columbia Falls, where her husband worked as a supervisor at the Anaconda Aluminum Co. After her children left for college, she worked as a dental hygienist for many years before moving to Seattle, Wash. An avid gardener and seamstress, Dorothy continued to tend and care for her garden and sew her outfits until well into her 70s.

She is survived by her daughter, Penny A. Steele of Kirkland, Wash., and her son, Albert (Carol) Steele, of Stockton, Calif. She was a loving and splendid grandmother to her grandchildren Archie (Alice), Alvin (Patty) and Kelly (Ben) Steele-Willis of Stockton, and Denise Ure, George A. Ure II and Allison Ure, all of Seattle; and great-grandchildren Michael and Cymbrie Lynn Steele.

Dorothy was considered by her grandchildren as the "best grandmother ever."

A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 8, at Washelli Funeral Home in Seattle. Interment was at Abbieview Cemetery in Brier, Wash. A reception was held after the internment at her daughter's residence in Kirkland.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations please be made in her name to Pasado's Safe Haven, www.pasadosafehaven.org, and Doctors Without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org.