LeMoyne Wilber Steele was born on Sept. 14, 1929 in Alden to the late George and Sadie (Toenges) Steele. He was baptized as a young child and later confirmed. He received his education in the Alden Country School and later graduated in 1948 from the Albert Lea High School. Lem graduated from Mankato State University. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 11, 1953.

On July 31, 1955, Lem was united in marriage to Millie Glass in St. Peter, Minn. at the Evangelical Lutheran Church. To this union were blessed four children. For some 38 years, Lem was the territorial manger for Cargill Hybrid Seeds until retiring. Through the many years in Windom, Lem was a very active member of the Lutheran Church of Windom and the Community of Windom. Lem had a love for woodworking and along with his wife, Millie, they transformed wood into beautiful works of art. Along with his woodworking, Lem was a very generous, giving person with a sense of humor who enjoyed visiting and sharing with others. In the earlier part of this year., Lem was diagnosed with cancer. He battled the disease until his death on Thursday morning, Oct. 31, 2002, with his family at his bedside, at the age of 73 years.

His devoted family includes his wife of more than 47 years, Millie Steele of Windom; four children, Brian Steele and his wife, Susan of Shoreview; Genni Steele of St. Paul; David Steele of Minneapolis; and Lane Steele and his wife, Deann of Windom; five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Michael, Hannah, Sarah, and Isaac Steele; brother, Merlin Steele and his wife, Lois of Albert Lea; sister-in-law, Ethel Steele of Albert Lea; and a host of other family and friends.

His parents, one brother, Norman Steele, and one sister, Sanita Steele, preceded Lem in death.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom with the Rev. David Steege officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Visitation will be held tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Anderson-Schmidt-LaCanne Funeral Home in Windom, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church in Windom.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the memorial committee of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom.