Delbert Grover Steele

Delbert Grover Steele, 84, Jamestown, North Dakota died Friday, June 15, 2007 at Hi-Acres Manor Nursing Home in Jamestown.

Debert was born May 16, 1923 in Kensal, ND, the son of Grover and Florence (Wescom) Steele. When he was 6 years old, he moved with his family to a farmstead at Edmunds, ND. He attended rural Edmunds school and graduated from Pingree High School. Delbert entered the US Marine Corps on March 5, 1943 at San Diego, California and served in the South Pacific with the 2nd Division, 8th Marines until Japan's surrender and was then assigned to occupation duty in Japan. He was honorably discharged in January 1946 at San Francisco, CA and returned to Edmunds. Delbert married Shirley Jean Neil in February 1948. They made their home in Devils Lake, ND until moving to Edmunds where he worked as a lineman for Tri-County Electric until he started farming. In 1957 they moved to a farm at Pingree, ND where they continued to farm until Shirley's death in July 1975. They had three children together: Diana, Brian and Debbie.

Delbert married Mary Wagner Simmons on November 16, 1979 in Jamestown, where they made their home while he continued to farm with his son until his retirement in 1991.

He was a member of the Pingree Congregational Church, Buchanan Elevator Board, Jamestown Eagles and VFW and past president of the Pingree School Board. He enjoyed playing cards and attending athletic events his grandchildren participated in.

Delbert is survived by his wife, Mary, Jamestown; two daughters, Debbie (Curt) Nicklos and Diana (Harlow) Bales, both of Bismarck, ND; one son, Brian (Joyce) Steele, Pingree, ND; two stepsons, Chris (Dory) Simmons, Olympia, WA and Guy (Debbie) Simmons, Park Rapids, MN; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; one sister, Marge Abernathy, Missoula, MT; three brothers, Bernard (Phyllis) Steele, Pingree, ND, Clayton (Clarice) Steele, Carrington, ND and Robert (Denise) Steele, Jamestown; and special friends Albert & Alice Schnell and Gary & Deb Koebernick & Myriah.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley; one brother, Floyd; and one sister, Darlene Oak.

Funeral Service: 1:30 PM, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at St. John's Lutheran Church with Chaplain David Fisher and Rev. Dennis Ellingsen officiating.

Visitation: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday, June 18, 2007 at the Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, ND.

Prayer Service: 7:30 PM, Monday, June 18, 2007 at the Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Burial: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, North Dakota.

On line guestbook: www.eddyfuneralhome.com