Esther Mildred (Maakestad) Stensland (1917-2006)

STENSLAND, MAAKESTAD, OAKLAND, SCHMIDT, HOTH, SEVERSEIKE, ROLLAND, BAUGE, OSTREM

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 11/10/2006 at 06:00:56

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, November 8, 2006.

Esther Mildred (Maakestad) Stensland
Feb. 28, 1917 - Nov. 5, 2006

Esther Mildred (Maakestad) Stensland, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 5, at Bethany Manor in Story City, surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Radcliffe. Burial will be at Radcliffe Cemetery in Radcliffe.

Stensland was born Feb. 28, 1917, to William and Martha (Oakland) Maakestad. She was the youngest of 14 children. Esther was baptized April 9, 1917, at Bethany Lutheran Church on and confirmed Oct. 18, 1931. She graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1934 with a Normal Training Teaching Certificate. She taught in rural schools near Radcliffe for five years.

On June 1, 1940, she was united in marriage to James Stensland. They farmed east of Garden City for two years. They then moved northwest of Radcliffe to the farm belonging to Leonard Maakestad, and later moved to Stensland's home farm belonging to her father, William Maakestad, which they purchased in 1947. In 1979, they moved to Radcliffe and their son, Bradley, moved to the farm.

Stensland was a wonderful and devoted schoolteacher, homemaker, farming partner, wife, mother and grandmother. She took great joy in her family, flowers (particularly her beautiful roses), baking, golfing (Christine Bergeson was a favorite partner), Iowa Hawkeye basketball, and the Chicago Cubs. She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Radcliffe and participated in ALCW, the quilters group, and taught Sunday school. Stensland was a special source of encouragement to many friends and family during difficult times in their lives.

Stensland is survived by her husband of 66 years, James; son and daughter in-law, Bradley and Carolyn Stensland, of Radcliffe; granddaughter, Christy Stensland, of Davenport; granddaughter and grandson in-law, Laurie Stensland and Steven Schmidt, of Madison, Wis.; brother, Theodore Maakestad, of Cedar Falls; and sister, Verdelle (Harold) Hoth, of Story City. Special family members include Thomas (Janis) Reisetter, of Cedar Falls; David (Marianna) Reisetter, of Westmont, Ill.; Mary (Laverne) Severseike, of Garden City; Michael Reisetter, of Brookings, S.D.; Mark (Jean) Reisetter, of Lewiston, Minn.; and Becky Rolland, of LaPorte City; brothers-in-law, Russell (Marjorie) Stensland, of Radcliffe and Ken (Jean) Bauge, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sisters-in-law, Eva Ostrem and Margie Stensland, both of Radcliffe; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by brothers, John, Harry, Leonard, Wilbur, and Arnold; and sisters, Ella, Josie, Marie, Emma, Alma, and Margaret.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Boeke Funeral Home in Radcliffe.

Let us give thanks to God for the life and memory of Esther.

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