Laura Marie Steele, 91, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born February 21, 1930, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Frank Allen “Bert” Wallen and Inga Marie (Ekstedt) Wallen. She had eight older brothers and was the last of her family, with the exception of two nieces, Teresa Wallen of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Mary Kay Easton of Lexington, Kentucky.

Following her graduation from Fort Scott Community College, Laura worked at several companies over the years as a secretary and bookkeeper including Fort Scott Hydraulic Cement Co., Bruce Marble and Granite Works, the F.B.I. in Kansas City, Missouri, The Western Insurance, and Citizens Bank (now Landmark).

Laura married Russell Steele, a grain farmer of Uniontown, Kansas, in 1973, having met when she worked for The Western. She was a farm wife and homemaker until his death in 1992.

Laura was a member of the First Christian Church in Fort Scott. She played the piano for F.C.C., as well as for other churches in the area.

In addition to her husband, Russell, Laura was also preceded in death by her parents, and her eight brothers, Frank, Albert, Charlie, Harry, Raymond, Robert, Richard, and James Wallen.

Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct graveside services at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.