STEVENS, Arthur W. 1909-1999

STEVENS, INGVALDSON, SERRES, LERBERG, KNOWLTON, TUCKER, CHRISTENSEN, GEARY

Posted By: Errin Wilker
Date: 7/30/2015 at 13:56:58

Arthur W. Stevens died suddenly March 28, 1999, of a fall at his home complicated by a stroke.

He was born November 21, 1909 in New Albin, the second son of William Edward and Ida (Ingvaldson) Stevens. He grew up in New Albin where he participated in baseball, basketball and football. At six-feet one-inch in height, he led his high school basketball team to section finals in 1927. He attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, now known as the University of Northern Iowa. His father became ill with diabetes in 1929, so Art returned home to New Albin to take over his dad's business of rural mail carrier.

In 1933, he moved to Austin, MN with his aunt, Anna Serres, where shortly after, he began working for the Hormel Food Corporation where he achieved the level of manufacturing superintendant before retiring in 1965.

He married Josephine Lerberg in Ellendale, MN on September 17, 1939. To this marriage, two children were born, Douglas and Mary.

Art was active in the community with the Boy Scouts, St. Olaf Lutheran Church where he served on the board of directors, St. Olaf Hospital board of directors, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Ozman Temple.

In 1965, Art and Josephine moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 1975. While living in Washington, they were active at Luther Place Memorial Church, where Art also served on the baord of directors.

After retirement, they moved back to Minnesota, locating in Burnsville, where they were active members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and where Art enjoyed golf, traveling and going to high school ball games.

Art was preceded in death by his mother, Ida; father, William; brother, Harold; and step-mother, Ollie. On February 13, 1998, he was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Josephine.

He is survived by his son, Douglas and his wife, Barbara of Osceola, IA; daughter, Mary and her husband, Gary Knowlton of Prior Lake, MN; grandchildren, William Knowlton, Jeff Tucker, Stephen Knowlton, Jennifer (John) Christensen, Stephanie (David) Geary, Michael Tucker, and Douglas Stevens, Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Benjamin Geary, Madelynn Christensen, and Clayton Geary.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, with visitation and reviewal at the church one hour prior to the service.

Graveside service Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Cemetery in Ellendale, MN.

Memorials preferred. Burnsville Funeral Home.

Source: Allamakee Journal, Lansing, IA, Apr. 1999.