Funeral services for Joan Stenson, 88, Colome, were held Nov. 22 at the Methodist Church in Winner. Burial was in the Colome Cemetery.
Stenson died Nov. 16 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.
Joan Joyce (Bowden) Stenson was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Tekamah, Neb., to Pearl Edith (Quick) and Clarence Miles “Mike” Bowden. She joined an older half-brother William Bowden. As a child she attended public schools in Nebraska while her father sought construction work during the Depression.
In 1941, Joan’s sister Carol Faith (Bowden) Moyer was born and the family settled in Lincoln. She attended high school in Lincoln, Neb., and later moved to South Dakota, graduating from Winner High School in 1949. Joan enjoyed her high school years in Winner and was active in cheerleading and served as a member of the homecoming court.
Following high school she moved to Omaha with her good friend Kate and worked as a cashier in a department store. It was there on a “blind date” she met Randal Stenson who she would marry on Aug. 22, 1953. Initially, the couple lived in Colome, later moving to the family farm outside of town. Her life would soon become full, becoming a mother to DeEtte the following summer and welcoming sons Craig and Brett in 1955 and 1956, respectively.
In 1966, the family became complete with the addition of a daughter, Randi Jo. As a wife and mother she was active in the community and in her husband and children’s lives, serving as a Cub Scout den mother, in the PTA, American Legion Auxiliary, as a member and later worthy matron of the Eastern Star, and the local bridge and birthday clubs. Joan was also a member of the First Christian Church, but would later attend the United Methodist Churches in Colome and Winner.
Joan and Randal raised their family and farmed/ranched outside Colome. Joan primarily worked in the home, but would later work alongside her husband in the realty/appraisal business in Winner. The couple stayed busy. Joan’s life revolved around family, faith, and Democratic politics. She actively supported her kids as they graduated, married, and began families of their own. Joan and Randal enjoyed traveling, visiting their children in different parts of the country, attending family reunions on both sides, and hosting the Annual Stenson Family Hunt. Throughout her life, Joan was the consummate hostess, her house served as a veritable bed and breakfast for both immediate and extended family and friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bill and her husband of nearly 61 years, Randal.
She is survived by her children DeEtte (Dan) Lombard, Craig Stenson, Brett (Stephanne) Stenson and Randi Jo Stenson; her grandchildren Danielle (Jason) Bonsack, Lakin (Tanner) Trigg, Colin Stenson, Sean Stenson, Samantha Stenson, Ashlee (Alex) Swanson, Seth Stenson, and Jakob Steffy; and her great grandchildren Judson, Delanie, Weston, Emersyn, Macon, and Keller Bonsack. In addition, Joan is survived by her sister Carol Moyer, her sister-in-law DeEtte Elliott and her brother-in-law Doug (Jeanne) Stenson.
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