Amanda "Della" Steele

Della Steele died peacefully June 24, 2019, at her home in North Powder, Oregon, surrounded by her family.  As has become a Steele family tradition, we’ll follow up the recent April celebration of her 75th birthday with a celebration of her life next summer, when family and friends can gather for music and dancing and sharing stories. 

Della’s significant legacy is kindness and generosity. We’ve all laughed and told stories about what it took to make Della angry—those instances were rare. She loved horses and dogs and cats and the occasional goat. And, all of the animals at the ranch enjoyed the same honored status. She was a dancer—at the VFW, the Frontier or on the dressage court or with a Tai-Chi stick. She loved the Crossroads Arts Center, the Baker County Library, Special Olympics, swimming at Radium Hot Springs and playing bridge. She effortlessly kept orchids blooming.

Della loved being on the ranch and cleaning the barn daily, yet rarely turned down an opportunity to travel. She’s traipsed through an astounding number of art museums in Europe and just three years ago spent a few days in the southern California desert so that she could see the Rolling Stones, the Who, Neil Young and Bob Dylan “before they died.”

Della was a good friend and an inspiring community member and the kind of mom and Nana who loved unconditionally yet cheered independence. She was a convincing optimist and a skilled diplomat. We will all miss her grace, her style and her genuine caring. As her family and friends, we often recognize that Della Steele is truly the best person we’ve ever known. 

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Della, the family suggests the Crossroads Art Center through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com