Selma Annie Steele Obituary (1920

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SELMA ANNIE STEELE Went home to the Lord on September 25, 2010 Wife, Sister, Mother, Grandma, and Great-Grandma Selma Annie Grann was born on the farm at home in Perth, North Dakota, on June 10, 1920, to Benjamin and Helga Grann. After finishing her first 12 years in a "one room school house" she went to the Minneapolis School of Business (1938) in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. She took her Civil Service exam. At the beginning of WWII she was accepted as a secretary in the Yukon Territories in Northern Canada, employed by the Civil Service for the war years. Selma moved to Seattle, Washington, to work and live with cousins. Arthur Steele came to Seattle to visit his cousin, Selma's roommate, and a young handsome man was standing at the door in his military uniform. It was "Love at First Sight." They were married on August 11, 1946. They moved to Yakima, Washington. Selma worked there doing secretarial and receptionist work for an optical business. Their first born was Darrell L. Steele. Six months later the three of them moved to Kingston. In 1952 Art and Selma bought their South Kingston waterfront home. Selma worked part time civil service at Bangor and Real Estate in Kingston. A few years later their second son was born, Gary Arthur Steele. Both boys were raised at the South Kingston waterfront home. Selma was busy being a mother. In 1958, with other mothers, she helped start the Kingston Cub Scout Pack, "Triple Nickel" (555), and acted as a committee member of the troop until 1973, having the "1st set of brothers" to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. She also belonged to the Kingston Garden Club, Good Sam's Club, Sons of Norway in Poulsbo. Selma loved being with her family, supporting all of their activities. Selma also had a passion for shopping! Selma and Art would travel every year to North Dakota and Minnesota to visit family and friends. They both loved to camp and travel on their vacations. Art retired in 1983 and the two of them became "snow birds," traveling in their fifth wheel trailer to Arizona, Alaska, and the Western United States. In 1993, they spent a month traveling through Norway visiting relatives. Selma was a long time attendee of the Kingston Christian Church and a constituent of the Faith Lutheran Church in Kingston. Selma was preceded by her parents, Ben and Helga Grann; and her true love Arthur M. Steele. She is survived by her son Darrell (Pat) Steele of Methow Valley, Washington and Gary (Cheryl) Steele of Kingston, Washington; grandchildren, Joanne (John) Mackey, Jolene (Bill) Sede, Jesse (Jessica) Steele, Amanda (Kevin) Carlson, Garrett (fiancee Denise) Steele, and Grann Steele; great-grandchildren, Joel, Kyle, Conner, and Landon; sister, Harriet (Derald) Hanson of Benson, Minnesota; and brother, John Grann (Lenora) of Perth, North Dakota. The family would like to thank her caregivers for their loving care; Cindy, Katherine, Glender, Shirley, and Letty, as well as the lovely Hospice and Group Health staff. Selma leaves a legacy of love, honesty, respect, and family, and a very blessed life. She will be missed dearly by all. A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 2, 2010, 11:00 am, at Faith Lutheran Church in Kingston, followed by fellowship and a graveside service at Kingston Cemetery. Art and Selma are "Together Forever"