In Memoriam
CAROL STEELE
b.December 25, 1937
d.November 22, 2022
Please join our celebration of life
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 1:00 PM
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
11560 SE Market Street, Portland, OR
Perhaps following in the traditions of Martin Luther, Carol enjoyed sipping on a robust, hoppy Pilsner style beer at dinnertime. Her preference was the brand "Bohemian", but if her Scandinavian frugality was in control, she'd settle on a generic simply labeled "Beer".
On December 25, 1937, Carol Louise Anderson was born in Portland, Oregon.
She was born to George and Helga Anderson (Berg) weighing 8 pounds and measuring 21 inches long. By 22 months, she had grown to 35 inches tall, by five years old rising to 45 3/4 inches (3'8").
Carol at about 12 years old appears taller than her father and sister Sandra (b.1940).
Carol grew up in the Russellville district in East County, attending Gresham High School. She graduated from Portland State College in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Education. Receiving mostly A's and B's at Portland State, she pulled a very rare "C" in Bowling.
Married to Harvey Steele on August 15th, 1959
Shortly after marriage, Harvey and Carol bounce around the West Coast living in Eugene, OR, Berkley, CA, Seattle, WA (twice), finally landing in the Rockwood neighborhood of Portland's East County.
Harvey and Carol have two children:
Christopher (1964) and Jonathan (1968)
Jonathan, Chris, and Trixie
Carol becomes a stay-at-home mom during the day, and a very active civic volunteer in the evenings. As the boys grow older, Carol returns to a position at the IRS, retiring in 1994 totaling 15 years of service.
PASSING
Carol Louise Steele passed away from natural causes early in morning of November 22nd, 2022. A resident of Gresham, Carol is survived by her sister Sandra (b.1940) of Las Cruces, New Mexico, her sons Christopher and Jonathan, grand-daughter Erika Rose, and four step-grandchildren. Carol is inurned at Willamette National Cemetery beside Harvey honoring his veteran status.
​
Following open-heart surgery in June of 2012, Carol struggled with recurring bouts of dizziness and vertigo. Carol and Harvey continued to travel, but their trips were shorter and lighter. By 2015, Carol is experiencing episodes of arterial fibrillation, leaving her weak and unable to enjoy travel and her favorite outdoor activities.
RELAXATION
After dinner, Carol would frequently enjoy a glass of wine. Nothing fancy, generally a cheap Chardonnay. She read mystery novels, often spy thrillers from John le Carré. One of her favorite authors was Ursula K. Le Guin, author of the "Earthsea" fantasy series.
​
On television, she watched "Masterpiece Theater", "Masterpiece Mystery", and always looked forward to the annual "Mark Russell" political comedy special. In 1979, the mini-series "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" aired, and Carol made sure that the entire family was otherwise occupied during the broadcast. The family understood that Carol was not to be interrupted.
​
In the spring and summer, Carol spent time in the garden. She always had a variety of roses and bulbs.
JOURNALING
 |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Carol loved to write and kept journals throughout her life. They were oftentimes very personal diaries that discussed her feelings in vivid detail. When she had open-heart surgery in 2012, she journaled about her experiences, relating specifics about the attendants and the sights and sounds around her.
​
She was much more observant about her surroundings than the family probably ever knew! While her husband Harvey was frequently associated with his near-photographic and encyclopedic memory, he wasn't exactly "observant" per se. He might recall the specifics of a conversation, but he likely wouldn't be able to remember the color of the speaker's shirt or eyes.
Carol loved reading detective novels, and she probably would have made an excellent criminal investigator with her penchant for remembering details.
The 511 Federal Building in Portland
Photo by M.O. Stevens
Chris' friend used to stash his Kools in our backyard tree fort. The top deck of the fort was very high, rising just above the power lines along the property line. I was probably about 12 years old when I decided to give smoking a try. I must have smoked 3 or 4 cigarettes before I came down. I came in through the patio sliding door, where Mom was sitting in her favorite chair with a very clear view of the fort. She had to have seen the plumes of smoke rising, and I obviously smelled like a menthol factory. Not a word from her. Ever. But, now I'm sure there is a journal entry somewhere about it.
~Jonathan
LUTHERAN FAITH
Raised in the Lutheran tradition, Carol's faith had a strong influence on her world view and character. In preparation of open-heart surgery in 2012, her journals reveal that she relied heavily on her faith, fully accepting that her fate was entirely in God's hands.
​
She took to heart the role of acting as God's servant. Carol expressed her faith and devotion by taking a leadership role in helping others through numerous civic institutions such as The League of Women Voters, Metropolitan Portland Boundary Commission, and the Oregon Archaeological Preservation Committee.
Carol consistently demonstrated the values of the "servant leader", inspiring others by her example and affecting change from behind the scenes.
Following open-heart surgery that caused a cascade of resulting health conditions and complications in later years, she expressed to her family on many occasions that she was at peace with God and had no fear about what may come.
Rick Steves
Travel Writer and TV Host
From LivingLutheran.org "I'm a Lutheran" series
I’m a Lutheran because it fits my personality—pack light; keep it simple; embrace life; celebrate diversity; jettison needless rules; stand up to authority when the truth needs a hand; and dance through the blessing of life on Earth like a child in God’s eyes.
Garrison Keillor
Humorist and Radio Host
Excerpted from "I'm a Lutheran", 1999
We are a modest people
And we never make a fuss
And it sure would be a better world
If they were all as modest as us.
​
Once in awhile we go to shows
But a Lutheran is not a fan.
We don't whistle and we don't laugh
We smile as loud as we can.
Nature and Travel
Some people might pull over for a roadside carnival, an ice cream shop, or a great bookstore.
Carol wouldn't pass any opportunity for a good hike! Literally following in her mother's footsteps, Carol was an avid hiker and nature lover.
OREGON COAST
Carol's parents took the family to the Oregon Coast or to the local rivers frequently. From a very young age, trips to the coast were always special.
Carol Steele
Journal writings
Drive to the Beach
I am always surprised when we suddenly break through the Coast Mountains and out onto the Tillamook Plain when we drive the highway from Portland. I have welcomed that spot as the end of the tedious drive to the beach. The early memories of the trips of our family beach trip when we all piled into my Dad’s thirties era Dodge sedan. And we fled Portland for an excursion to the beach.
In those days the Wilson River Highway wound tortuously through the ravaged landscape of the Tillamook Burn. Memories of steep hillsides covered with the snags of burned trees, trunks silver in the misty light, plunged down to the edge of the highway-miles of a ghost forest.
When I was a child I suffered terribly from car-sickness and had to ride in the front seat of the car on long trips to try to alleviate the sudden jerking from side to side.
YELLOWSTONE
Following Carol's freshman year at Portland State College, she participated in a Summer internship at Yellowstone National Park.
TRAVEL
Carol and Harvey travelled as often as they could. Following their retirements, they combined vacations with genealogy fact-finding, travelling to England, Europe, and Scandinavia.
Civics and Politics
Carol was a stay-at-home Mom by day, and a Civic Volunteer superhero by night.
​
Shortly after marriage, Harvey accepted a teaching position in Eugene, Oregon. Carol had a degree in Education as well and took some contracts as a substitute teacher, including subbing for Harvey on at least one occasion. Harvey was awarded a Woodrow Wilson teaching award, but instead elects to take the civil service exam and lands a position in Seattle performing background checks for the FBI. Carol writes in her journal:
"I don't think I will like Harvey's new job. First, before I could share in his experiences as a teacher—would help me relieve my frustrations at being unable to get a job myself. But now he can't tell me what he will be doing. Second, it is possible we'll be stuck in some miserable little town away from Portland and my friends. Third, driving all the time, Harvey will want to relax when he gets home, and I being cabin-bound would want to get out." -June 26, 1961
Luckily, Carol discovered her calling and became engaged in numerous civic activities. She very active with the East Multnomah League of Women Voters, served on the Portland Metropolitan Local Area Boundary Commission, serves on the Centennial Local School Committee, becomes a member of the Democratic Precinct (5593) Committee, and acts as Campaign Manager on the Ruth McFarland for Supervisor campaign.
As a child, I didn't understand exactly what Mom was doing in the evenings. Having been to the monthly OAS meetings, I suspected that it was probably a bunch of adults talking about boring things. What I clearly understood was that when Mom was at meetings, Dad would take my brother and me to Rico's Pizza for dinner!
~Jonathan
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Activities include Voter Service, editor of bulletin, unit leader, Board member, research on solid waste, transportation, urban Indians, and county charter revision.
​
Editor Note: I was unable to determine exactly which years Carol was active with the League of Women Voters, other than a news clipping that identified her in 1977. However, I believe it was a considerable amount of time as she rose to the position of Board Member at one point.
Checking over plans for the vocational-technical structures planned for Mt. Hood Community College are Mrs. Carol Steele, right, and Mrs. Robin Greiner, both of the East Multnomah County League of Women Voters. Voters in the MHCC district will go to the polls Feb. 19 on a bond issue that would provide funds for the new structures. Mrs. Steele chaired the League's study of the MHCC bond issue. Mrs. Greiner is the first vice-president of the organization. The League's board has voted to support the bond issue.
Carol appears second to the left.
PORTLAND METROPOLITAN LOCAL AREA BOUNDARY COMMISSION
December 1976 - June 1984
Vice-Chairman July 1981 - June 1983
Chairman July 1983 - June 1984
Describing in simple terms what a "local area boundary commission" does isn't easy. In some found notes Carol describes it: "The duties are to attend monthly hearings and to approve or deny annexations to cities, water or sewer districts or other special districts. I have attended Legislative hearings and talked informally to legislators on the Commission budget and the legislation affecting boundary commisions."
Photo: Excavation site and participants unknown.
Archaeology and Genealogy
Carol and Harvey were very active as amateur archaeologists. Bush-whacking through stinging nettle at a remote Native American site down-wind from the paper mill in Camas was considered to be a "typical family outing".
OREGON ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
It's unclear when Carol's membership with OAS began, but likely sometime in the early 1960's. In 2001, she was was awarded a Distinguished Service Award.
​
Harvey and Carol participated in excavations at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and and also at numerous remote sites.
Dan and Nancy Stueber
When we first moved to Oregon in 1981, Nancy started to work in public programs at OMSI, and was introduced to OAS through their monthly meetings at the museum and their annual archaeology show.
Harvey and Carol had been leaders, working diligently for several years, to shift OAS away from a culture of artifact collecting to a culture of education, research, and support for professional archaeologists.
OREGON ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Carol acted as a lobbyist for the Oregon Archaeological Preservation Society during the 1975 and 1977 Legislative sessions. Duties included testifying, and to organize letter writing campaigns for two bills passed by the 1977 Legislature.
"DON'T CALL THEM DIGS"
The January 6, 1977 edition of The Gresham Outlook included a double-page "people" feature of the Steele Family and their archaeological adventures.
SCANDINAVIAN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY and FAMILY HISTORY CENTER
As Carol and Harvey approached their retirements, they poured energy into genealogy research of the family. Both of them were already excellent researchers in their own right, and together they made a powerful team. Making numerous trips to the Family Research Center in Salt Lake City, they followed up leads across the country.
Carol travelled to Scandinavia (with her mother) to visit family homesteads and follow up on leads. Tracking down leads for her father's line (Anderson) and her mother (Berg) in Finland and Sweden was the type of challenge that Carol thrived on.
​
Learning some basic Finnish and Swedish allowed her to translate documents, a skill that Carol offered to others as a longtime member of the Scandinavian Genealogical Society, including acting as President for a number of years. She also volunteered at the East Multnomah chapter of the Family History Center.
BERGS and ANDERSONS
Another example of how Carol and Harvey found themselves to be intellectual equals, the extent of the research they did on the family tree cannot be understated. Their work documented the Steele tree back to 1800, while the Anderson/Berg line has been defined as far back as 1620.
​
​
OAS "Screenings", August 1977, Vol.26, No.8
Harvey Steele
I'd never go an archaeological dig without Carol to help me interpret.
​
She wisely saw that archaeology combined high adventure with a pastime that was wholesome for the whole family.
​
​
Family
ERIKA ROSE
Hopefully Erika Rose will forgive calling out a special section just for herself, but Carol was very much devoted to Chris and Kathy's daughter!
Carol's journals on the birth of each of her two sons reveal that in each instance, she had really hoped for girls! Carol loved her sons completely, of course, but when her grand-daughter Erika Rose was born, she finally had the baby girl she had always hoped for.
​
Carol was always thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time with Erika Rose, nurturing her like she did with her boys decades earlier.
EPILOGUE
Written by Jonathan Steele
I wish that I would have known more about my Mom's passion for journaling and short-form story writing. I live in Arizona, and we didn't talk on the phone very frequently. Email exchanges were usually of the form of "some news to share" and not generally "literary". But finding her journals after her passing, I realize now that she was a very clever writer. I would have enjoyed very much exchanging stories with her, biographical or fictional.
​
It's easy for me to draw a direct line from her values to my own. Always tell the truth, even if it's hard. Respect the opinions of others, but don't capitulate, always stand by your principles. Be kind. Protect and cherish the natural world. Seek out beauty. Expand your worldview through travel.
​
Beside Every Good Man is a Great Woman
​
Mom and Dad were intellectual equals. I've said this quite a bit in these memoriams, because I feel that it's important. Dad was the gregarious one, and he gets a lot of credit for being a scholar and a teacher. However, they were always a team, and so in some ways, it's a blessing that they passed away less than a year apart.
​
As I became an adult, I started to realize what a "big deal" both of my parents were. In different ways they influenced so many people through kindness and charity.
​
"Nevertheless, she persisted."
​
I'm so proud of both of them, but especially Mom. In the 1960's as she was "coming into her own" it was still a time when women weren't supposed to be leaders. A news clipping as late as 1977 identified her work with the League of Women Voters as "Mrs. Harvey (Carol) Steele".
She was definitely not simply a parenthetical. She was a brilliant, strong, but kind woman who devoted her life to our family and also to the service of others.
​
Rest in peace, Mom.
