Stenword Bjorndal
d. May 7, 2016
Stenword Johan Bjorndal was born October 25, 1922, in Alcester, South Dakota, the son of Sam & Bertha (Underland) Bjorndal, the second youngest of five children. In 1932, his family moved to Sacred Heart, Minnesota. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1936. He graduated from the Sacred Heart High School in 1942. After graduation he helped his dad farm and also worked with some of the neighboring farms, including working for a rancher in South Dakota. On December 9, 1945, he was united in marriage to Eunice Hegna at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Sacred Heart, to this union three children were born: Scott, LeAnn and Peggy.
After living for three years on a farm north of Sacred Heart, they bought a farm in Hawk Creek township on March 1, 1949. Stenword loved farming and working the land. He also raised beef cattle, collected antiques, antique Farmall tractors and after several years of searching, bought a 1936 Plymouth Coupe, a replica of the car he had when he courted Eunice.
Stenword and Eunice enjoyed traveling to all 48 states, Canada, Mexico and visited Europe twice. They also spent their winters in Arizona and Texas for twenty years.
Stenword served on the church council, the advisory board at the Granite Falls Technical College, Rodeo Board and was also awarded the Bull Slinger Award. As a young man, he was in the Golden Gloves Boxing circuit and in his later years joined a bowling league and a square dancing club.
During Stenword and Eunice’s child rearing years, they hosted weekly softball games every summer with neighboring farm families.
Stenword and Eunice were married for 70 years, and a six year courtship. They will truly be missed by their family and all who knew them.
Stenword is survived by his children: Scott (Karla) Bjorndal of Granite Falls; LeAnn Thun of Eden Prairie; grandchildren: Brandon (Krista) Thun, Steven (Beth) Bjorndal, Shawn (Alisha) Bjorndal, Sara (Ryan-Fiancée) Bjorndal, and Christina (Kirk) Eilertson; great grandchildren: Hailie, Hanna, Chase, Carter, Kate, Claire, Raegan, Cullen, Samuel and Brandon.
He was preceded in death by his wife Eunice; daughter Peggy Avelsgaard; sisters: Bernice Gildow, Nora Josephson & Florence Haug and his brother Gordon Bjorndal.
After living for three years on a farm north of Sacred Heart, they bought a farm in Hawk Creek township on March 1, 1949. Stenword loved farming and working the land. He also raised beef cattle, collected antiques, antique Farmall tractors and after several years of searching, bought a 1936 Plymouth Coupe, a replica of the car he had when he courted Eunice.
Stenword and Eunice enjoyed traveling to all 48 states, Canada, Mexico and visited Europe twice. They also spent their winters in Arizona and Texas for twenty years.
Stenword served on the church council, the advisory board at the Granite Falls Technical College, Rodeo Board and was also awarded the Bull Slinger Award. As a young man, he was in the Golden Gloves Boxing circuit and in his later years joined a bowling league and a square dancing club.
During Stenword and Eunice’s child rearing years, they hosted weekly softball games every summer with neighboring farm families.
Stenword and Eunice were married for 70 years, and a six year courtship. They will truly be missed by their family and all who knew them.
Stenword is survived by his children: Scott (Karla) Bjorndal of Granite Falls; LeAnn Thun of Eden Prairie; grandchildren: Brandon (Krista) Thun, Steven (Beth) Bjorndal, Shawn (Alisha) Bjorndal, Sara (Ryan-Fiancée) Bjorndal, and Christina (Kirk) Eilertson; great grandchildren: Hailie, Hanna, Chase, Carter, Kate, Claire, Raegan, Cullen, Samuel and Brandon.
He was preceded in death by his wife Eunice; daughter Peggy Avelsgaard; sisters: Bernice Gildow, Nora Josephson & Florence Haug and his brother Gordon Bjorndal.
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