Ivadell R. Jensen Steele, age 80, went to be with her savior surrounded by her loving family on Monday, January 14, 2008 in Mount Vernon, Washington. She was born at home on December 25, 1927 in Martin County, Minnesota to Ery and Luella Harback Chesley.
Ivadell grew up in Minnesota and was married to Everett Jensen on July 21, 1945 in Estherville, Iowa. They resided in Minnesota and later North Dakota before moving to Skagit County in 1965 and to Sedro-Woolley in 1977. She worked as various nursing homes until 1970 when she began a 23 year career working in Central Supply and later Housekeeping at United General Hospital.
Her husband Everett passed away in April of 1992 and she then completed a CNA course and became a caregiver for Visiting Nurses. Not ready to totally retire, Ivadell became a Wal-Mart greeter in 2000 a job which she really loved.
Ivadell met and later married Dick Steele on August 3, 2002 and moved to Mount Vernon where they enjoyed nearly four years of love and laughter before Dick’s passing in 2006.
Ivadell was a member of Viewcrest Assembly of God Church in Mount Vernon and enjoyed making quilts and baby blankets, baking, and being a wife, mother, and grandmother to her family.
She is survived by 6 daughters, Carol Brown and her husband Charlie of Sequim, Connie Hague and her husband Tony of Mount Vernon, Susan Longbottom and her husband Mike of Clear Lake, Ruth Turner and her husband Rick of Mount Vernon, Shirley Owen and her husband Tom of Fruitport, MI, Bonnie Sims and her husband Gene of Sedro-Woolley, and a son, Everett Jensen Jr. of Bellingham. A step-daughter, Lynnette Robertson and her husband Leonard of Colville, WA and 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. A sister, Nina Walterman of Jackson, MN and 2 brothers, James Chesley of Estherville, IA and Alvin Chesley and his wife June of Hiawatha, IA. Numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Everett and Dick, 2 brothers, Orville and Obert Chesley, 2 sisters, Blanche Landis and Ruby Pieper, a granddaughter, Tonya Sue Hague and a great granddaughter, Kennedee Rayanne Saunders.
Graveside Services will be Friday, January 18, 2008 at 1:00 PM at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery with Pastor John Aguilar of Mount Vernon officiating. Arrangements and Services under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Memorials are suggested to National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, PO Box 75915, Baltimore, MD 21275-9155.