Al Stenvold

Al Stenvold, age 84 of Grand Forks, ND, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, ND with Rev. Troy Troftgruben officiating, after which a light lunch will be served. Visitation will be held for one hour before the funeral at the church on Monday and interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, rural Erskine, MN. The Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston, MN is in charge of the arrangements and messages of condolence may be sent to www.carlinhoialmen.com.Elvin "Al" O. Stenvold was born May 17, 1928 in Fosston, MN. The son of Monrad and Mabel (Wiberg) Stenvold, he was raised in Gonvick, MN, graduating from high school there. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead for two years. It was during this time he met LaVanche "Lovey" Erickson of Drayton, ND. They were married on May 18, 1946, enjoying more than 66 years together.Al worked for Minnesota Dairy/Cass Clay for over 30 years, retiring in 1992. Many will remember him from his retail years of home delivery. He always said he had such wonderful customers, and saw many of their children progress from newborns into adulthood.In his retirement, he worked part-time security for the Fargo Civic Center, and in more recent years for the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. He continued, at 84, with the Alerus until his diagnosis in August of last year.His hobbies were gardening and working in the shop. Skilled with woodworking, that little shop produced many lamps, candle holders, crosses, toy chests, a hope chest, numerous bookshelves, TV cabinets, and much more.Al also enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, travelling, cribbage, crosswords, coffee, visiting, and reading voraciously. However, his true passion would have to be "People". Beloved wife Lovey, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren; relatives, friends, acquaintances- He enjoyed, loved, and truly believed in people.Al met each new challenge of brain cancer with grace, humor, and dignity. He would say "It could always be worse". He always had a word of thanks for the smallest of services done for him.On Monday, January 28, 2013 Al passed away peacefully at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN at the age of 84 years.Al is survived by his wife Lovey of Grand Forks, two daughters: Randie (Dale) Haake of Fargo, ND, Kandace (Merl) Loken of Arvilla, ND; son Scott of Fargo, ND; son-in-law Gary Larsen of San Antonio, TX; nine grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Beverlee Ostenaa of Fosston, MN, Terry Woodford of Coon Rapids, MN, and Addie (Arnold) Sletta of Brea, CA.He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Talmadge, sister Marlys Lien, daughter Lindee (Gary) Larsen, grandson Wade Haake, and parental in-laws Norman and Georgia Erickson.