Funeral services for 83-year old Eldon Lee Steele are Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 2:00 at the Porcupine School in Porcupine, SD, with Pastor Sam Ite Ska Sr officiating.
Burial is at the Lakota Gospel Cemetery in Porcupine
A one-night wake service starts Friday, Dec 8, at 2:00 at the Porcupine School with evening services at 7:30 and military roll call to follow.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Eldon Lee Steele was born on February 15, 1940 at home in Rockyford, SD to Frank Steele and Mamie (Palmier) Steele. Eldon passed into eternity peacefully at Pine Ridge IHS on November 30, 2023 at 9:40 AM.
Eldon attended OCS for his elementary and high school education. He briefly attended Holy Rosary Mission before enlisting in the US Navy on November 11, 1959. He spent four years in the service and was discharged on Nov 12, 1963. He served on the USS Midway CVA 49 as a boiler repairman and was discharged as a Petty Officer
After he was discharged, Eldon attended Long Beach City College in Long Beach, CA in 1964 and worked in maintenance at Sears and Roebuck. During his tenure in college, he was on the Dean’s List and graduated with an AA degree in Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
Eldon worked as a maintenance man at Boeing Aircraft in Los Angeles and at the Deadwood Homestake Mines. He worked as a police officer with the OST Public Safety for about 2 years.
He also worked under a Master Electrician and had both theory and hands-on experience as an industrial electrician. With that experience, he tested for the South Dakota Electrical Engineering certificate and passed. He was accredited and worked as a fully certified electrician. He worked as an electrical instructor for the Oglala Lakota College, and helped many students graduate.
Eldon applied for B&U Government Employment, but was denied and was told he “couldn’t shovel coal”. He went to the BIA Superintendent to let him know about his qualifications, leading the superintendent to arrange an interview and with that, they had created a position for Eldon.
Eldon worked for all contract schools in the Lakota Nation. He was an instructor for a program under the OST Program-Indian Action-Instructor.
Eldon was responsible for the lighting structures at the Pine Ridge airport, so that flights could land safely on cloudy days and at night. He assisted young couples and elderly with free electrical services. He assisted Little Wound to repair a problem when all known contractors couldn’t repair the problem. He assisted with the former Yellow Bird’s gas station in Pine Ridge when the contractor couldn’t read the blueprints, and the gas pumps were malfunctioning. Eldon fixed the problem for them.
Eldon was an avid writer for the Navajo Times and the Black Hills News. They loved his stories. Eldon converted from Catholicism to Christianity and was a part of the Ite Ska Ministries. He was also a part of a group of gospel singers who sang on KILI for a few years, and in recent years had been working as a part of the radio ministries on KBHB Radio.
Eldon is survived by his wife of 56 years Vina (White Face) Steele; children Eldeen (Adrian Sr) Steele-Yellow Boy, Eldon Steele Jr, and Darwin Steele; adopted grandson Calyton David Steele; and grandchildren Dylan (Samantha) Tymes, Stormy (Morgan) Tymes, AJ Yellow Boy, Joshua Yellow Boy, Adam Yellow Boy, Caitlin Rencountre, SusAnna Sitting Bear, Esparanza Rencountre, Gemma Rencountre, Sasha & Jasper Dennis, Arieana Steele, Marjorie Two Bulls, and Isaiah Provincial.
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Mamie Steele; brothers Chester Steele, Joshua Steele, Larry and Gary Steele Sr; sisters Hermine Thompson, Buelah Gallego, Delores Hawkins, Fern Steele and Emily (Sitter) Deon; son Dennis Tom Steele; and grandchild Susan Sara Yellow Boy.
Pallbearers will be Adam Yellow Boy, Clayton David Steele, Stormy Tymes, AJ Yellow Boy Jr, Dylan Tymes, and Julian Steele.
Honorary pallbearers will be his long-time friends Joe Shirley of the Navajo Nation and Robert Clifford, Darwin Steele, Eldon (Littleman) Steele, Zuya Yellow Boy, Joshua Yellow Boy, Sam Ite Ska Jr, Douglas, Tyler, and Justin Ite Ska, Lawrence Young Bear Jr, Tyrell Jumping Eagle, Anpo New Holy, Tim White Face & Family, Sam Ite Ska & Family, Mary H Young Bear & Family, Lillian Good Shield & Family, Adrian & Eldeen Yellow Boy & Family, Pam & Ted Lovejoy, Ohitika Elk & Family, Doris & Nathan Waldo Elk, Bonner & Colleen, Jordon Ozuya, Frank Lasley & Family, Nicole Davis & Family, Roman Lasley, Manuel Scout, Greeley White Face & Family, Betty White Face & Family, Caitlin Rencountre & Family, Gemma, Esy, Susan, Jasper, and Sasha, Jennifer Deon & Family, Nellie Deon & Family, Dawn Deon & Family, DeeAnn Deon & Family, Denise & Gilbert Mesteth & Family, Frankee & Chile White Dress, Lynn Gallego & Family, Emma Gallego & Family, Sherry Steele & Family, Gary Steele & Family, John Yellow Bird-Steele & Family, Joyce Bear Robe & Family, Mamie Steele & Family, Chet Steele & Family, Robert Steele & Family, Betsy Steele & Family, Vincent Steele & Family, Paul Steele & Family, Joann Steele & Family, Betty Steele & Family, Phillip Steele, Jesse & Kelly Grass, Vince Whipple, Fern Apple & Family, Tony Apple & Family, Josh Steele & Family, Willene Steele & Family, Sally, April, Melanie & Families, Garf Steele & Family, Darla Swain, Kevin, Big D, Tina Steele & Family, Rodney Thompson & Family, Weber & Linda, Larry, Jeff and Rance Thompson & Family, Heather Janis & Family, Rick Bush & Family, Tony Adams, Greg Black Elk & Michelle Adams, Kevin Poor Bear & Family, Will Wounded & Family, Tim Brewer & Family, Bill Quijas, Ann Weston & Family, Rhonda Two Eagles & Family, Sherry Richards & Family, Betty Brave Heart & Family, Sis & Joyce Yellow Boy & Families, Jonathan Yellow Boy & Family, Zeno Little & Family, Eddie Little & Family, Pat Little, Mike Madden & Family, Wayne & Tommy Tuttle, IHS ER Staff, IHS Acute Care Staff, EMTS, Avera Hospital Staff in Pierre, SD, Avera Staff in Sioux Falls, SD, Martin Rehab Care Staff, Monument Health Care, Palmier Family, Montileaux Family, Jacobs Family, All Nieces, Nephews, and Grandchildren, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge,