Marlene Beatrice Steele, loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully Feb. 19, 2021 with multiple medical challenges, including dementia. She was born June 17, 1932 to Levine and Freda Braathen in Steele County, N.D.

Marlene was a graduate of Everett High School and went on to be assistant manager at Hughes Department store in Everett. She married Roger Steele on April 3, 1955 and spent the next 60 years as a resident in Langley, Wash., on Whidbey Island.

Marlene also worked for the school district, Star Store and Island County Fairgrounds. She was very involved in the Democratic Party in her younger days and later with the Girls Birthday Club, Red Hat Society, Pinnacle/Bridge card groups and, of course, her girls’ day trip to the casino.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband Roger Steele; sister Marion Zylstra Miller; brother David Braathen; and in-laws Chuck and Louise Steele, Bill and Esther Steele, Alice and Paul Furman and Jean and Omar Porter.

Marlene is survived by her five daughters, Amy (Harry) Jenkins, Jeanie (George) Piontek, Diana (Jerry) Gadek, Lori (Dave) Jackson and Linda Steele. She was grandmother to Chantil Jenkins, Nicole (Lucas) O’Brien, Quinn Piontek, Lisa Piontek, Jessica Frank (Jon Pelland), Jason (Danielle) Gadek, Amanda (Mike) Thompson, David Tegano, Melissa (Sam Sorden) Mather, Ryan Fitzke and Reagan Fitzke. She had five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all.

We would like to thank the staff at Garden Court for her two years residence in Everett and two years residence at GenCare at Steel Lake, Memory Care, in Federal Way, Wash. CHI Franciscan hospice care for Marlene was a blessing in keeping her pain free as she passed away.

There will be a gravesite service for immediate family to be held at a later date to be determined when it is safe for travel.