Ruth M. Steele

Ruth Marie Juedeman Steele was born on August 26, 1922 in Tuskegee, Oklahoma to William August Juedeman and Helena Kathrina Reinhardt Juedeman. She passed from this life on Sunday, December 28, 2014 in Tulsa, Oklahoma having reached the age of 92 years, 4 months, and 2 days. Ruth married Kenneth Ivan Steele on June 1, 1943 in Edna, Oklahoma, and he preceded her in death on June 26, 1999. She was raised in Edna, Oklahoma, and graduated from Bristow High School and Oklahoma Teacher’s College in Edmond, Oklahoma. She taught school in Edna, Oklahoma during World War II while Kenneth was overseas, and after the war she started her family. Kenneth had a career in the United States Air Force so they were able to live in Georgia, Ohio, Texas, England, and Germany before settling in Burkburnett, Texas after his retirement in 1969. Ruth began teaching fourth grade again in Burkburnett, Texas in 1966 and continued for twenty-one years. Upon the death of Kenneth, Ruth remained in Burkburnett until 2006 then she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ruth is survived by her daughter, Kathy Sittler and her husband, Charles, Tulsa; three sons, Dr. Steven Steele and wife, Frances, Corpus Christi, Texas, Timothy Steele and wife, Linda, La Vernia, Texas, and Dr. Barry Steele and wife,Jan, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; eleven grandchildren, Katie Mistele, Greg Steele, Jon Steele, Sarah Michlitsch, Jennifer Bishop, Jeffrey Sittler, Christopher Steele, Kaitlyn Steele, Melanie Steele, Nathan Steele, and David Steele; nine great-grandchildren, Elisabeth Bishop, Andrew Mistele, Kyle Mistele, Joshua Mistele, Mark Mistele, Ben Steele, Luke Steele, Madeline Michlitsch, and Paul Michlitsch; plus a number of other relatives, and many friends. Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 31 at Poteet Funeral Chapel, Pawnee, with Rev. Don Brown officiating. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery.