NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
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Nadine E. Steele, 98, of Owatonna, died Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Homestead Hospice House. 

She was born July 29, 1913 in Ellendale, Minnesota, the daughter of George and Ethel (Girvin) Bennett. In 1931, she graduated from Ellendale High School.  On November 28, 1931, she was married to Elmer Steele Jr., at the Ellendale Methodist Church Parsonage. She and Elmer farmed for many years in the Ellendale area, and in 1947, started the Steele Oil Company together.  They lived in Hope until 1976, when the business was sold and they moved to Owatonna.  Active in 4-H, Nadine attended the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago in 1929, where she  received an award for her cake baking and canning skills.  Her interest in 4-H continued when her daughters were members, serving as a 4-H leader for many years.  

Nadine was a woman of many talents, whether it was sewing clothes or draperies, upholstering furniture, or doing charcoal drawings or acrylic paintings.  An avid reader, she became the family historian for both the Steele and Bennett families. She traced the Steele family back to 1629 when they left England for the colonies.  She and her husband were great sports fans. They were long time season ticket holders for the Owatonna Aces baseball team, and thus awarded lifetime tickets to all OHS athletic events from the Owatonna Sports Boosters in recognition of their support and attendance. She especially enjoyed attending her daughter’s, grandchildren's and great grandchildren's events, whether school, music or sports.

Nadine is survived by two daughters, Virginia “Ginny” Thompson of Owatonna and Margaret (Gary) Johnson of Farmington.  She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Craig (Lori) Thompson and Erin (Rob) Hagen of Owatonna, Christopher (Monica) Erickson of Savage, Lisa (Tom) Paolucci of Palos Verdes, CA, and Amy (Sean) Meszaros of Minneapolis.  Also surviving are 17 great grandchildren and her sister, Helen Ingold of St. Louis, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son, a daughter, 4 brothers, and 1 sister.

Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 from 1-2 p.m.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday August 30, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Michaelson Funeral Home with the Reverend Julie Malone officiating.  Interment will in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna. 

Flower memorials are preferred to the Patient Care Fund of Homestead Hospice House or Cedarview Care Center, where she spent the last six years of her life.  The family wishes to thank the staff at Cedarview and Homestead Hospice for their care and concern for Nadine.

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