John Leonard Steele II, 80, of Spearfish, passed away with his family by side at his home, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Hoag, as Celebrant. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
John Leonard Steele, II, "Leonard" was born on April 15, 1926, in Deadwood, to John Leonard and Stella (Trathen) Steele. Leonard lived in Lead, with his parents until he was 14 years-old. The family moved to Spearfish, where Leonard graduated from Spearfish High School in 1944. During high school and after graduation, Leonard started his first of many businesses in the Spearfish area. He owned and operated Sunshine Dairy, milking cows and delivering milk to the residents of Spearfish. His business quickly grew to serve residents of Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming. Leonard sold the dairy to Black Hills Producers which became Gillette Brown Swiss.
Leonard met Hope Kathryn Humbert and married her at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, on Aug. 1, 1948.
Leonard and Hope welcomed their only child, John Leonard Steele, III. After 28 years of marriage, Hope returned to the Lord after a long battle with cancer, on Nov. 5, 1976.
Shortly thereafter, the Lord again blessed Leonard in marriage, and united him with Aldene Fowler, on Nov. 12, 1977.
Throughout the years, Leonard became know as a great entrepreneur. He had a passion for the film industry, in which he owned and operated the Vita Theatre in Spearfish, which grew into what is now known as the Northern Hills Cinema. His love of the industry grew to include the Mile-High Drive-In in Lead, Hills Drive-In in Spearfish, the Shy-Hi Cinema and Drive-In, in Gillette, Wyo., the Foothills Cinema also in Gillette, the Flika Theatre in Gunnison, Colo., and other drive-in theatres in the Brighton and Denver, Colo. area. Leonard was also involved in the construction business and helped develop much of the Spearfish area.
Some of his well-known building projects included the Spearfish Country Club Village, Northern Hills Cinema, Hart Ranch Country Club Village, as well as numerous houses and business throughout the Black Hills.
Family was extremely important in Leonard's life. He was especially proud of his wife, son and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing in the streams of the Black Hills, golfing, picking wild berries, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and participating in the Catholic Church.
Grateful to have shared in his life were his wife, Aldene of 29 years; his son John (Cindy) Steele III of Spearfish, two grandchildren, Brooke K. Steele of Spearfish, and John Steele IV of Omaha Neb. Also grateful to have shared in his life were his five step-children, Laurie (Chris) Fleet of Phoenix, Ariz.; Linda (Tom) Cheney of Glendale, Ariz.; Lesha Morrison of Charleston, S.C.; Robert "Skip" (Merilee) Fowler of Campverde, Ariz.; and Leslie (John) Cotton of Gillette; 14 step-grandchildren: Adam, Rebecca, LaShal, Joel, Zachary, Nicholas, Shannalee, Matthew, Eliza, Josh, Sarah, Chad, Karie, Leslee, cousin Peggy Arrington, friends colleagues and business associates.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, JL and Stella, grandparents, one infant brother, his first wife, Hope Kathryn Steele, and two cousins.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish.
Black Hills Pioneer December 11, 2006
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Hoag, as Celebrant. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
John Leonard Steele, II, "Leonard" was born on April 15, 1926, in Deadwood, to John Leonard and Stella (Trathen) Steele. Leonard lived in Lead, with his parents until he was 14 years-old. The family moved to Spearfish, where Leonard graduated from Spearfish High School in 1944. During high school and after graduation, Leonard started his first of many businesses in the Spearfish area. He owned and operated Sunshine Dairy, milking cows and delivering milk to the residents of Spearfish. His business quickly grew to serve residents of Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming. Leonard sold the dairy to Black Hills Producers which became Gillette Brown Swiss.
Leonard met Hope Kathryn Humbert and married her at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, on Aug. 1, 1948.
Leonard and Hope welcomed their only child, John Leonard Steele, III. After 28 years of marriage, Hope returned to the Lord after a long battle with cancer, on Nov. 5, 1976.
Shortly thereafter, the Lord again blessed Leonard in marriage, and united him with Aldene Fowler, on Nov. 12, 1977.
Throughout the years, Leonard became know as a great entrepreneur. He had a passion for the film industry, in which he owned and operated the Vita Theatre in Spearfish, which grew into what is now known as the Northern Hills Cinema. His love of the industry grew to include the Mile-High Drive-In in Lead, Hills Drive-In in Spearfish, the Shy-Hi Cinema and Drive-In, in Gillette, Wyo., the Foothills Cinema also in Gillette, the Flika Theatre in Gunnison, Colo., and other drive-in theatres in the Brighton and Denver, Colo. area. Leonard was also involved in the construction business and helped develop much of the Spearfish area.
Some of his well-known building projects included the Spearfish Country Club Village, Northern Hills Cinema, Hart Ranch Country Club Village, as well as numerous houses and business throughout the Black Hills.
Family was extremely important in Leonard's life. He was especially proud of his wife, son and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing in the streams of the Black Hills, golfing, picking wild berries, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and participating in the Catholic Church.
Grateful to have shared in his life were his wife, Aldene of 29 years; his son John (Cindy) Steele III of Spearfish, two grandchildren, Brooke K. Steele of Spearfish, and John Steele IV of Omaha Neb. Also grateful to have shared in his life were his five step-children, Laurie (Chris) Fleet of Phoenix, Ariz.; Linda (Tom) Cheney of Glendale, Ariz.; Lesha Morrison of Charleston, S.C.; Robert "Skip" (Merilee) Fowler of Campverde, Ariz.; and Leslie (John) Cotton of Gillette; 14 step-grandchildren: Adam, Rebecca, LaShal, Joel, Zachary, Nicholas, Shannalee, Matthew, Eliza, Josh, Sarah, Chad, Karie, Leslee, cousin Peggy Arrington, friends colleagues and business associates.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, JL and Stella, grandparents, one infant brother, his first wife, Hope Kathryn Steele, and two cousins.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish.
Black Hills Pioneer December 11, 2006
John Leonard Steele II, 80, of Spearfish, passed away with his family by side at his home, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Hoag, as Celebrant. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
John Leonard Steele, II, "Leonard" was born on April 15, 1926, in Deadwood, to John Leonard and Stella (Trathen) Steele. Leonard lived in Lead, with his parents until he was 14 years-old. The family moved to Spearfish, where Leonard graduated from Spearfish High School in 1944. During high school and after graduation, Leonard started his first of many businesses in the Spearfish area. He owned and operated Sunshine Dairy, milking cows and delivering milk to the residents of Spearfish. His business quickly grew to serve residents of Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming. Leonard sold the dairy to Black Hills Producers which became Gillette Brown Swiss.
Leonard met Hope Kathryn Humbert and married her at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, on Aug. 1, 1948.
Leonard and Hope welcomed their only child, John Leonard Steele, III. After 28 years of marriage, Hope returned to the Lord after a long battle with cancer, on Nov. 5, 1976.
Shortly thereafter, the Lord again blessed Leonard in marriage, and united him with Aldene Fowler, on Nov. 12, 1977.
Throughout the years, Leonard became know as a great entrepreneur. He had a passion for the film industry, in which he owned and operated the Vita Theatre in Spearfish, which grew into what is now known as the Northern Hills Cinema. His love of the industry grew to include the Mile-High Drive-In in Lead, Hills Drive-In in Spearfish, the Shy-Hi Cinema and Drive-In, in Gillette, Wyo., the Foothills Cinema also in Gillette, the Flika Theatre in Gunnison, Colo., and other drive-in theatres in the Brighton and Denver, Colo. area. Leonard was also involved in the construction business and helped develop much of the Spearfish area.
Some of his well-known building projects included the Spearfish Country Club Village, Northern Hills Cinema, Hart Ranch Country Club Village, as well as numerous houses and business throughout the Black Hills.
Family was extremely important in Leonard's life. He was especially proud of his wife, son and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing in the streams of the Black Hills, golfing, picking wild berries, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and participating in the Catholic Church.
Grateful to have shared in his life were his wife, Aldene of 29 years; his son John (Cindy) Steele III of Spearfish, two grandchildren, Brooke K. Steele of Spearfish, and John Steele IV of Omaha Neb. Also grateful to have shared in his life were his five step-children, Laurie (Chris) Fleet of Phoenix, Ariz.; Linda (Tom) Cheney of Glendale, Ariz.; Lesha Morrison of Charleston, S.C.; Robert "Skip" (Merilee) Fowler of Campverde, Ariz.; and Leslie (John) Cotton of Gillette; 14 step-grandchildren: Adam, Rebecca, LaShal, Joel, Zachary, Nicholas, Shannalee, Matthew, Eliza, Josh, Sarah, Chad, Karie, Leslee, cousin Peggy Arrington, friends colleagues and business associates.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, JL and Stella, grandparents, one infant brother, his first wife, Hope Kathryn Steele, and two cousins.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish.
Black Hills Pioneer December 11, 2006
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Hoag, as Celebrant. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
John Leonard Steele, II, "Leonard" was born on April 15, 1926, in Deadwood, to John Leonard and Stella (Trathen) Steele. Leonard lived in Lead, with his parents until he was 14 years-old. The family moved to Spearfish, where Leonard graduated from Spearfish High School in 1944. During high school and after graduation, Leonard started his first of many businesses in the Spearfish area. He owned and operated Sunshine Dairy, milking cows and delivering milk to the residents of Spearfish. His business quickly grew to serve residents of Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming. Leonard sold the dairy to Black Hills Producers which became Gillette Brown Swiss.
Leonard met Hope Kathryn Humbert and married her at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, on Aug. 1, 1948.
Leonard and Hope welcomed their only child, John Leonard Steele, III. After 28 years of marriage, Hope returned to the Lord after a long battle with cancer, on Nov. 5, 1976.
Shortly thereafter, the Lord again blessed Leonard in marriage, and united him with Aldene Fowler, on Nov. 12, 1977.
Throughout the years, Leonard became know as a great entrepreneur. He had a passion for the film industry, in which he owned and operated the Vita Theatre in Spearfish, which grew into what is now known as the Northern Hills Cinema. His love of the industry grew to include the Mile-High Drive-In in Lead, Hills Drive-In in Spearfish, the Shy-Hi Cinema and Drive-In, in Gillette, Wyo., the Foothills Cinema also in Gillette, the Flika Theatre in Gunnison, Colo., and other drive-in theatres in the Brighton and Denver, Colo. area. Leonard was also involved in the construction business and helped develop much of the Spearfish area.
Some of his well-known building projects included the Spearfish Country Club Village, Northern Hills Cinema, Hart Ranch Country Club Village, as well as numerous houses and business throughout the Black Hills.
Family was extremely important in Leonard's life. He was especially proud of his wife, son and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing in the streams of the Black Hills, golfing, picking wild berries, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and participating in the Catholic Church.
Grateful to have shared in his life were his wife, Aldene of 29 years; his son John (Cindy) Steele III of Spearfish, two grandchildren, Brooke K. Steele of Spearfish, and John Steele IV of Omaha Neb. Also grateful to have shared in his life were his five step-children, Laurie (Chris) Fleet of Phoenix, Ariz.; Linda (Tom) Cheney of Glendale, Ariz.; Lesha Morrison of Charleston, S.C.; Robert "Skip" (Merilee) Fowler of Campverde, Ariz.; and Leslie (John) Cotton of Gillette; 14 step-grandchildren: Adam, Rebecca, LaShal, Joel, Zachary, Nicholas, Shannalee, Matthew, Eliza, Josh, Sarah, Chad, Karie, Leslee, cousin Peggy Arrington, friends colleagues and business associates.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, JL and Stella, grandparents, one infant brother, his first wife, Hope Kathryn Steele, and two cousins.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Spearfish.
Black Hills Pioneer December 11, 2006
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