Marjorie Ann Bonham Steele

Marjorie Ann Steele, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, and friend passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, the 3rd of February 2023, at 83 years old.

Marjorie was born on June 26, 1939, in Bountiful, Utah, to Cecil and Lola Bonham. She was the second child of six—two of whom died when they were in their childhood (Betty and Carl). Surviving to adulthood were her older sister, Gale Flake, and her two younger brothers, Bill and Lee Bonham. Her older sister, Gale, was her best friend throughout her life, until Gale’s death several years ago.

In her early years, Marjorie lived mostly in Arizona—with some time spent in Utah. She fondly remembered road-trip vacations with her family—especially the one where she road with her siblings all across the western United States in the back of her parent’s pick-up truck! In her early twenties, she served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central America Mission. While serving there she learned Spanish well, met life-long friends, and found her love of missionary work. It was this love of missionary work for the gospel of Jesus Christ that drove her to go far outside her comfort zone and meet all her neighbors wherever she lived.

After her mission in Central America, she fell in love with and married Ike Lynn Steele, who also served a mission in Central America and knew Spanish fluently. They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on August 21, 1965. 

Marjorie and Lynn had five children—David, Michael, Gary, Thomas and Elena. They hosted a foreign exchange student from Japan for many years—Keisuke Katsuyama. They loved him so much, he became part of the family, and she claimed him as her son. They raised their children mostly in the Phoenix Metro Valley with some time spent in Missouri.

Early on in their marriage, Marjorie received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and became a teacher. She was an excellent elementary school teacher, and had many students later in her life express gratitude to her for sharing her love and talent of teaching with them. She retired from teaching and settled with her husband in north Gilbert at Val Vista Lakes, where she lived for nearly 30 years.

She selflessly took care of her father, mother, and husband until all three of them passed to the other side. She loved serving her family and others, and spent many hours visiting and serving her neighbors while living at Val Vista Lakes.

One of the things she was best known for among her family members was how wonderful she was as a grandma! She had amazing “Grandma Parties” with all her grandchildren on a regular basis. On each grandchild’s birthday she would celebrate with them and show them how special they were to her. As they got older, she sent birthday cards with a little bit of money and her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ written inside. Over the last several years, as she got older, she made a point to call every beloved child and grandchild on their “day”—every month—just to stay connected to each person. Her entire family will miss those monthly calls.

Marjorie will be remembered for her countless acts of service, her strong conviction of the gospel of Jesus Christ, her ability to forgive, her constant loyalty to friends and family, her amazing organizational talent and her unending love for family, friends, and neighbors. She had a quirky fun side that some people seldom saw—hence her latest favorite picture of herself (compliments of Snapchat) that we have displayed above. She had a great love for BYU sports, which she faithfully watched with her good friend, Carol Jean Jones. She was a lovely woman inside and out and will be sorely missed.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents (Cecil and Lola Bonham), three of her siblings (Betty and Carl Bonham, and Gale Bonham Flake), her husband (Lynn Steele), and her son (Thomas Lamar Steele).

Marjorie is survived by 2 of her brothers (Bill and Lee Bonham), 5 of her children (David Steele, Keisuke Katsuyama, Michael Steele, Gary Steele, and Elena Steele Yeager), 25 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was unafraid of dying, and even excited to be reunited with her loved ones who passed on before her. Her greatest excitement was to be reunited with her husband again. She passed away happy and peaceful in her sleep, with her daughter by her side. Her viewing, services, and interment will be held as listed above.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.