Dean Loyal Steele

Dean Loyal Steele, 89, passed away Oct. 25, 2017 in Missoula. Dean was born on Feb. 7, 1928 in North Dakota to Calistus and Helen (Stevenson) Steele. Dean was the oldest of five children. Dean was born and raised as an avid hunter, fisherman, boater and outdoorsman. Dean had many certificates and awards for his outstanding marksmanship with the rifle. Dean entered into the Army and served in Korea as an Airborne Ranger from 1950 until 1952. 

Dean married his beloved wife, Delores, who he was very happily married to until her death in 2003. Dean and Delores had a single child, Tanya, in 1964, while they were living in Portland. In 1968, Dean, Delores and Tanya moved to Moscow, where Dean took a job with the USDA where he worked as an auditor and traveled extensively throughout the Western United States. Dean and his family lived in Moscow until 1987 when Dean retired and he and his wife moved to Libby. For a short time Dean joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary and patrolled Lake Koocanusa. Dean lived in Libby from 1987 until 2016 when he moved to Missoula due to health concerns.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents Calistus and Helen Steele, brother Ronald, and his sisters Mayella and Joyce. Dean is survived by his daughter Tanya and her husband, Douglas, and their daughter (Dean’s granddaughter) Maya who was born in 2000. Dean is also survived by his brother Royce, who lives in Troy, Montana. 

Dean was a great guy with a terrific sense of humor and one of life’s true joys was making him laugh. Dean will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to have known him.

A brief service will be held at the Schackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home in Libby on Monday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.