Magnus Stensvold, known to the people of the area as "Maggie", died Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at Golden Age Manor in Amery.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 14, at East Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Baardseth officiating. Burial was at the Amery Cemetery. Casketbearers were Ken J. Stensvold, Kerry Stensvold, Sam Erickson, Wayne Setter, Bryce Cain, Carl Johnson, Sean Olson and Arlyn Severson.
Maggie was born on March 5, 1931, in Polk County, Wis., to Evelyn and Magnus Stensvold. The family lived outside Lemington, Wis. for about 12 years before returning to Polk County.
Maggie was successful with many different kinds of work -- truck driver, mobile home mover, farmer, bowling alley/restaurant owner in Pelican Rapids, Minn., and bar/grill owner in Deer Park, Wis. He never drank a drop of alcohol, even when he had reason to. Friends tried to spike his beverages, but he always caught them and dumped out the drinks.
Maggie enjoyed sports of all kinds. He played softball and loved bowling. He played cards in a euchre league in Deer Park and he and Audrey also played cards weekly for 40 years with dear friends Bill and Nancy Cain. He tried his hand at golf and got a "nest in one" when his golf ball landed in a bird's nest in a nearby tree! He got a big laugh over that. And the Green Bay Packers have definitely lost their number one fan. Maggie loved to laugh and make other people laugh. His favorite pastime was poking fun at his sister-in-law, Peg. They each managed to one-up each other and entertained everyone nearby in the process. Very many good laughs will be missed in the days to come.
Maggie was a loving husband to Audrey for 51 years. (They were married 52 and 11/12 years, so there were a couple of years that were not so good?...That one was our last joke on Maggie.)
Audrey is a registered nurse and worked at Amery Regional Medical Center as well as shoulder to shoulder with Maggie in their other business enterprises. Audrey's heart is broken and she wants Maggie back ... that is a real tribute to his success as a husband!
Maggie was a great father. Although Lonny did run away from home for about 24 hours when he was 15, he did return and permanently remained working with his parents in the family business. Now, Maggie was not only Lonny's father, but was also his best friend. Maggie's death leaves a big hole in Lonny's heart.
Maggie was also a steadfast brother. He and his brother Ken lived quite a distance apart, but they faithfully talked every week by telephone. Besides, that gave Maggie another chance to poke fun at Peg when the Packers beat the Vikings! Perhaps Ken and Lonny can keep the telephone tradition going.
Over the years, Maggie changed from being a "cats belong in the barn" guy to an "I love cats!" man. Petey and Spooky were treated like grandchildren. When they were outside too late, Maggie worried about eagles and coyotes devouring them.
Maggie was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Audrey and son Lon of Deer Park, Wis.; brother, Ken and his wife Peg (Schanon) Stensvold of Owatonna, Minn.; and other extended family. Maggie will be missed by many.
The Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Amery assisted the family with arrangements.
(Amery Free Press - Tuesday, April 14, 2009)
(New Richmond News - Thursday, April 16, 2009)
