Everesta Marie Steele was born in 1911 in Escanaba to parents Leo and Leada LaBonte. She was the oldest of 8 surviving children born to the LaBonte family, who were of French-Canadian descent. Her father was a boilermaker for the railroad, and her mother was an excellent seamstress and milliner. Everesta began learning her renowned hat-making skills early in life by watching her mother’s work.

In 1920, the LaBonte family lived on West Park Street. By 1930 they had moved to North Third Street, near other LaBonte family members who were opening businesses including LaBonte’s Food Store and a confectionary. Everesta was 18 years old and already employed as a telephone operator, a very respectable job for young ladies at the time.

Everesta was a devout Catholic, attending St. John’s “the French church.” She was active throughout her life with the Father of Marquette Circle of the Daughters of Isabella, first organized in Marquette in 1925. Over the years, she organized numerous events and held several offices with the organization.

Everesta met her future husband, Clyde Steele, at work. He was a salesman for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. His office was in the white Telephone Exchange building, which is still on West Washington Street next to the Phil Niemisto Pocket Park.

Everesta Steele as a mature person. (Photo courtesy of her niece, Bernadette LaBonte Wallace)

Clyde and Everesta married in 1934 and moved to Newberry Street in South Marquette, where they raised four children: Clyde Jr., Robert, Beverly, and Lois. Everesta appears to have stayed home for about 15 years raising the children.

Over the years, her marriage to Clyde was tumultuous. In some years they lived together and other years she was living with a sister or by herself. They eventually divorced in 1949. In the 1950 census, Everesta’s household included four generations, consisting of her, her four children, her parents, a brother, and her 96-year-old grandfather.

By 1948 she was once again listed as a telephone operator in the city directory. When telephones switched from plug in connections to dial operation, Everesta became an instructor to help other operators learn the conversion.

Next door to the Bell building was the Mining Journal office at 148 W. Washington Street (now Casselman & Henderson law offices). On the second floor was Mrs. Esther Rollins’ Hat Shop. Everesta apprenticed there, honing her craft in hat-making while still working for the telephone company. Even before she bought the store in 1959, she and her daughter Lois were making buying trips to Chicago. When she bought the hat shop, she renamed it “Ever Esta’s,” and employed her daughter to work as a clerk.

By 1960 she was chairing twice-annual fashion shows for the Daughters of Isabella. At the 1960 fall show more than 150 guests watched models show off hats from Ever Esta’s along with jewelry from Nyquist’s Jewelry shop. She also provided the ten hats awarded as prizes during the show. Although the fall shows were held in the Knights of Columbus Hall; the even more popular spring shows were held at Kaufman auditorium. The 1961 spring show had a St Patrick’s Day theme. Clearly a devoted party planner, in between those two events she helped present the annual Christmas party for three hundred children of Bell Telephone company employees, complete with movies, clowns, and a magician.

Everesta Steele in her younger years. (Photo courtesy of her niece, Bernadette LaBonte Wallace)

Everesta’s niece, Bernadette LaBonte Wallace, remembers going to her aunt’s shop every Easter to pick out a new Easter bonnet and matching gloves. Everesta worked hard to be a milliner and telephone instructor for several years. But when she retired from Michigan Bell in 1966 after 27 years of service, it was finally the time to expand her hat shop.

By 1968 Everesta had moved the store to 727 N. Third Street, on the corner of Third and Prospect. The building had formerly housed a confectionery store run by her uncle Ziel LaBonte. Down the street was LaBonte’s Food Store, originally opened by her uncle Frank LaBonte.

The clothing business was competitive. Everesta advertised in the Marquette Mirror newspaper with “Fashion Clearance Sales” every spring. Ever Esta’s Dress Shop remained open until 1978 when she retired again.

She is remembered as an important businesswoman in the history of Marquette. She was community-minded and loved to be involved. She was a member of The Telephone Pioneers of America, Daughters of Isabella, the Business and Professional Women, Zonta and the Women’s Club. When she passed away in 1994, she was survived by her children, twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Thanks to Bernadette LaBonte Wallace for loaning us the images of her aunt.