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Mattie Valene Steele, 71, passed away peacefully in Lethbridge, Alberta, on November 14, 2025. A hippie at heart, Valene met the world with a feisty disposition. She was a lover of all plants, but wildflowers held a special place in her heart, and if you were lucky, you might have even caught her dancing in the kitchen or wherever she was when her favourite song came on.
Valene is survived by her two children, Jory Gammie (Kelly) and Ben Steele (Jolayn); her cherished grandchildren, Rowan and Allyson; her brothers Barton (Marlene), Dwight (Mandy), her sisters Barbara (Clark), Lennie (Kelvin), Dixie (Jim), Heather (Brent) and her longtime partner, Gordon Low. She is also lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews, her partner’s children, Kari Ivie (Chad) and Jennifer Low, and her step-grandson, Kole.
She was predeceased by her parents, Bennett John Rasmussen and Marjorie Gill, and her younger brother, Devon Rasmussen.
Honouring Valene’s wishes, no service will be held but her family invites those who knew her to remember her in their own way—perhaps when passing a patch of wildflowers, or when having a little dance in the kitchen.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Mattie Valene (Rasmussen) Steele, please visit our Tree Store.