Luella H. Steben, 76, of Effingham, formerly of Altamont, passed away at 6:40 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today, Oct. 30, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Effingham, with burial in Arborcrest Memorial Park, west of Effingham. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Bauer Funeral Home, Effingham, and will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time today at the church. Memorials may be made to Crossroads Cancer Center or the donor's choice. Online condolences may be left at www.bauerfh.com.

Luella was born Sept. 14, 1936, in West Township in the Bethlehem Community, the daughter of Louis and Mildred (Berg) Duckwitz. She was baptized Sept. 20, 1936, and confirmed March 18, 1951, at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Altamont.

Luella married Eugene E. Steben on Nov. 16, 1957. After moving to Effingham, they became members of St. John's Lutheran Church, Effingham. Luella retired as a department manager at the Effingham Wal-Mart.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene, of Effingham; son, Randy, of Altamont; daughers, Brenda (Roger) Evans of Altamont and Marlene (Gail) Bushue of Effingham; eight grandchildren, Tyler (friend, Jessica Ward) Evans, Traci (John) Bruns, Greg, Grant (friend, Molly Myracle) and Gevin Bushue, Holly and David Steben and Amber Putnam; and four great-grandchildren, Chloe, Jasper, John and Emma.

She was preceded in death by her parents.