Funeral services for Raymond Charles Steele, 85, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Todd Walsh will officiate. Interment will be at the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Raymond died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at Albert Lea Medical Center.

Raymond Charles Steele was born on Oct. 21, 1922, to Harry and Jessie (Toenges) Steele in Alden Township. He attended school in Conger. Raymond married Carmen Odell Allen on June 9, 1944, in Albert Lea. The couple farmed in the Alden and Geneva area until they moved to Albert Lea in 1963. Raymond worked for the Freeborn County Highway Department from 1963 until his retirement in 1984. Raymond was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He was also a member of the Eagles, Elks and Moose Lodge. Raymond&8217;s hobbies were woodworking, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed having coffee with his friends at the Donut Hut and HyVee.

Survivors include his wife, Carmen; children, Ron (Mary) Steele of Ellendale, Dave Steele of Albert Lea, Bruce (Diane) Steele of Scarville, Iowa, and Jim (Mary) Steele of Albert Lea; grandsons, Troy (Sheila) Steele of Albert Lea, Michael Steele of Ellendale, Derek Steele of New Hampshire, Jason (Athena) Steele of Allenstown, N.H., and Ryan and Tom Steele of Albert Lea; 4 great-grandchildren; sister, Shirley Gold; many brother and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents and mother and father-in-law; Hazel and Ed Allen, brother, Chester Steele, one brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law.