Ralph Steele

Biography

Click Here To View Memorial Video Ralph J. Steele of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died Monday, July 15, 2013, in Boise. Ralph was born April 30, 1924, in Iona, Idaho, to Jesse Glen and Anna Pauline Hawkes Steele. Ralph graduated from Iona High School in1942 and attended the University of Idaho, Southern Branch, in Pocatello for two years. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944, attending Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and serving as an Infantry Officer with the 42nd Infantry Division in Germany and Austria. In 1945, Ralph married Lucile I. Slaughter. After World War II, Ralph and Lucile returned to Idaho Falls to raise their family and operate their family farm, located east of Idaho Falls. They were also partners in Deer Creek Land and Cattle Company, a family-owned cattle ranch located at the head of Willow Creek, just south of Bone, Idaho. He was active in farming and civic organizations. In 1957, he received the “Outstanding Young Farmer” Award from the Idaho Falls Junior Chamber of Commerce. He served as president of the Bonneville County Cattlemen’s Association and Director and President of the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association. He served as Chairman of the Bonneville County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service; Director and charter member of the Idaho Beef Council; and Director of the Idaho Farm Bureau. He was a recipient of the “Friend of Agriculture” Award from the Idaho Farm Bureau and was named to the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. Elected to the Idaho House of Representatives, Ralph served five terms in the Idaho State Legislature from 1984 to 1996. He was a Bonneville County Commissioner and chairman of the Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Committee. He also served on the Executive Advisory Council of the Eastern Idaho Technical College and was a member of the University of Idaho Advisory Council. His wife of fifty-seven years, Lucile, preceded him in death in 2002. He is also preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Eleanor Elizabeth Steele, Norma Steele Rast, Lucy Fern Steele Rockwood; and infant brothers, Joseph Steele and Glen Steele. He is survived by his children, Nancy Elg (Brent) of Boise, Idaho; Carolyn Harrison (Tom) of Eagle, Idaho; Katherine Moriarty (Tom) of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Wayne (Susan) Steele of Boise, Idaho; and Scott Steele of Idaho Falls, Idaho. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2013, in the Iona LDS 1st Ward, 5169 East Denning Avenue. A viewing will be held for family and friends one hour prior to services at the church. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial team and Idaho Honor Guard. Interment will be in the Iona Cemetery. Flowers and contributions to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are both welcome: http://www.salk.edu/