Laura Irene Steele

Laura entered eternal life on August 24, 2024. Laura was preceded in death by her grandparents and her parents Mollie and Harry Johnston. She is survived by her husband Bill, her 3 children Warren, David and Stacey and her 4 grandchildren, Tyler, Hannah, Darian and Violette, as well as her 2 brothers Bill and Joe. 

Laura succumbed to COPD but only after she fought with her usual determination, strength and independence. All who knew Laura knew that part of her very well! She didn't give up easily and she shared that strength and resilience with those around her even encouraging friends and family from her very own hospital bed!

Laura's soon to be sweetheart Bill Steele arrived in Cheyenne on June 6, 1966 with the Air Force and he had no idea that he was about to meet the most amazing, beautiful, passionate and strong woman he would ever know! Early on they learned that they even shared the same birthday, the same month, day and year!! October 31, 1947! She made him show his ID to prove it of course! The Halloween twins as they called themselves shared 53 years of marriage and raised three children together Warren David and Stacey.

Laura had the knack of making friends wherever she would go, whether it was working at the Pepsi Bottling Company, the City of Cheyenne, BLM or when out and about golfing, bowling, playing bingo or just getting groceries. Now don't misunderstand she could also call out anyone who needed it too - nobody got away with much around her! 

Laura seemed to have Kitchen Magic as she could make a meal out a handful of ingredients and everyone was stuffed by the end! Her favorite thing to make was what she called "kitchen sink soup" meaning it had everything in it but the kitchen sink! Some of her most noteworthy dishes were green chili and tortillas, fried potatoes and pinto beans, deep fried tacos that she would make alongside her mom and our family's favorite - homemade potato salad in the big yellow pyrex bowl!

She enjoyed an early retirement with her husband Bill and they gained a entire additional community of friends in Arizona where they spent many winters together escaping the cold Wyoming wind! 

Laura enjoyed many hobbies over the years such as gardening, crochet, latch hook, ceramics, baking, learning to play piano, fishing, camping, bowling, golfing, garage saling, playing cards and her absolute favorite of all BINGO!

She practically had an honorary degree in antiques and collectibles as she knew how to identify and value just about anything! She collected many interesting items even selling treasures online and at her flea market booth. Like most who love vintage and antiques she of course collected more than she sold! 

She enjoyed gardening, which in Wyoming requires just what Laura was best at - determination creativity and resilience. She grew her favorite peonies and all kinds of flowers, trees and even some of her own vegetables over the years. Any Wyoming native knows this soil is very hard to work and if you get something to grow - there is definitely something special about you! 

She was smart as a whip and generally knowledgeable about any subject! If you would just stop and listen you could learn a lifetime of knowledge and wisdom from Laura! Her family even lovingly nicknamed her Brainy Smurf because she would always beat them at Scrabble with words they had never even heard before! 

Laura was proud of being a Wyoming native appreciating all things that represented Wyoming and Cheyenne, which is where she finished her days. She will be forever loved and missed by her friends, family and community.