Orville Stenerson

Orville Stenerson, 95, of Fargo, ND, died Thursday, December 19, 2013, in Villa Maria, Fargo, where he had resided since February of this year.

Orville, the son of Erick and Christina (Knutson) Stenerson, was born July 9, 1918, on the farm near Dodge, ND. He grew up and received his education in the Dodge community, where he graduated from high school, as class valedictorian, in 1937.

After farming for 16 years with his parents, he left the farm for Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he graduated three years later as salutatorian of his class. In 1966, Orville was awarded his master's degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

On June 21, 1959, in Minneapolis, MN, Orville was united in marriage to Beatrice Nygaard, of Longview, WA.

After teaching for seven years at the high school in Hettinger, ND, Orville became a philosophy instructor and chairman of the Humanities Department at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND.

Orville retired in 1986. In recognition of his term and effort, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation by Bismarck State College. During his teaching years, he also frequently served as an interim lay-pastor in several Lutheran congregations in western North Dakota.

In 1992, Orville and Beatrice moved to Fargo, where they have lived since.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Agnes Rodne; two brothers-in-law, Berger and Carl Rodne; and two nephews, Mark and Paul Rodne.

Orville is survived by his wife, Beatrice, Fargo; sons, John Stenerson, Bakersfield, CA, and Daniel (Sarah) Stenerson, Denver, CO; sister, Olive Rodne, Fargo; nieces, Karen Beutler, Carolyn Rodne, and Mary Rodne; and nephew, Otto Rodne.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 26, 2013, from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM, followed by the funeral service, at 10:30, in Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo. Funeral arrangements by Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead.