1917
Walter
2012
Walter R. Stenson
April 16, 1917 — September 29, 2012
Walter Raymond Stenson, 95, Moorhead, MN, died Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Eventide Lutheran Home in Moorhead.
Walter Stenson was born April 16, 1917, on the family farm near Finley, ND. He was the son of Henry and Anna Stenson. Walter was baptized and confirmed in Sharon Lutheran Church, Sharon, ND. He attended Franklin School District 1 through 8th grade and high school in Sharon, where he graduated in 1937. Throughout his life, he was always taking specialty classes to learn new skills. His motto was "you are never too old to learn new things." After high school, Walter farmed the home place at Finley with his family and helped at neighboring farms before he and a friend headed west to San Francisco, CA, to see the world. From there he went to Los Angeles, CA, and worked for Santa Fe Hospital from 1940 to 1942. He worked many jobs there including maintenance, boiler room and chauffeuring patients and blood to and from Santa Fe Hospital.
Walter entered the 9th Air Force in August 1942, serving in the United States and the European Theatre with the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorably discharged in October 1945. Following his military service he farmed for a year with his brother, Fred, at the family farm in Finley. In 1947, he joined Sears Roebuck and Co. in Spokane, WA, while visiting his brother. He then transferred to Fargo ND, as a salesman, rising to division manager before retiring in 1982. Walter really liked working with people and enjoyed his time with Sears.
On July 14, 1949, he married Vivian Mattson in Clara Lutheran Church in Comstock, MN. They celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2012. They made their home in Moorhead, all their married life. They built and maintained the Stenson Sommer Hjem at Lake Eunice where all the family gathered for fun and family time. Many good memories were shared there.
Walt and Vivian took a trip to Norway and Sweden after retiring, where they saw his mother's childhood home. Much to his surprise, he saw his baby picture hanging on the wall there. Walter was a good Norwegian and loved to cook lutefisk for the annual fundraiser at church. Woodworking was his hobby and he made many projects for family, friends and church. He was the go-to guy if anything needed to be fixed. Belonging to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, he was a charter member in the Helping Hands group, where he enjoyed sharing his gift of carpentry with the church and community. He cooked fluffy pancakes for the Helping Hands annual fundraiser using his secret ingredient for the batter.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian; one son, Wayne in Maple Grove, MN; one daughter, Vickie (Todd) Josal in Bremerton, WA; three grandsons, Joshua Stenson in Mayer, MN, Ryan (Hilma) Josal in Seattle, WA, and Matthew Josal in Great Falls, MT; one granddaughter, Tiffany (Doug) Gorton in Howard Lake, MN; great-granddaughters, Emma and Ayla; great-grandson, Avery; one brother, Rudolph (Grace) Stenson; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Oswald, Fred and Joel (June) Stenson; and two sisters, Jeanette and Louise Stenson.
Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Helping Hands or to your favorite charity.
Visitation for Walter will be Tuesday, October 2, 2012, from 5 - 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
His funeral will be Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 11 AM, in The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Moorhead.
Walter Stenson was born April 16, 1917, on the family farm near Finley, ND. He was the son of Henry and Anna Stenson. Walter was baptized and confirmed in Sharon Lutheran Church, Sharon, ND. He attended Franklin School District 1 through 8th grade and high school in Sharon, where he graduated in 1937. Throughout his life, he was always taking specialty classes to learn new skills. His motto was "you are never too old to learn new things." After high school, Walter farmed the home place at Finley with his family and helped at neighboring farms before he and a friend headed west to San Francisco, CA, to see the world. From there he went to Los Angeles, CA, and worked for Santa Fe Hospital from 1940 to 1942. He worked many jobs there including maintenance, boiler room and chauffeuring patients and blood to and from Santa Fe Hospital.
Walter entered the 9th Air Force in August 1942, serving in the United States and the European Theatre with the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorably discharged in October 1945. Following his military service he farmed for a year with his brother, Fred, at the family farm in Finley. In 1947, he joined Sears Roebuck and Co. in Spokane, WA, while visiting his brother. He then transferred to Fargo ND, as a salesman, rising to division manager before retiring in 1982. Walter really liked working with people and enjoyed his time with Sears.
On July 14, 1949, he married Vivian Mattson in Clara Lutheran Church in Comstock, MN. They celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2012. They made their home in Moorhead, all their married life. They built and maintained the Stenson Sommer Hjem at Lake Eunice where all the family gathered for fun and family time. Many good memories were shared there.
Walt and Vivian took a trip to Norway and Sweden after retiring, where they saw his mother's childhood home. Much to his surprise, he saw his baby picture hanging on the wall there. Walter was a good Norwegian and loved to cook lutefisk for the annual fundraiser at church. Woodworking was his hobby and he made many projects for family, friends and church. He was the go-to guy if anything needed to be fixed. Belonging to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, he was a charter member in the Helping Hands group, where he enjoyed sharing his gift of carpentry with the church and community. He cooked fluffy pancakes for the Helping Hands annual fundraiser using his secret ingredient for the batter.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian; one son, Wayne in Maple Grove, MN; one daughter, Vickie (Todd) Josal in Bremerton, WA; three grandsons, Joshua Stenson in Mayer, MN, Ryan (Hilma) Josal in Seattle, WA, and Matthew Josal in Great Falls, MT; one granddaughter, Tiffany (Doug) Gorton in Howard Lake, MN; great-granddaughters, Emma and Ayla; great-grandson, Avery; one brother, Rudolph (Grace) Stenson; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Oswald, Fred and Joel (June) Stenson; and two sisters, Jeanette and Louise Stenson.
Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Helping Hands or to your favorite charity.
Visitation for Walter will be Tuesday, October 2, 2012, from 5 - 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
His funeral will be Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 11 AM, in The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Moorhead.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter R. Stenson, please visit our flower store.
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