Frances Stensrud

The funeral service for Frances Mae Stensrud, 87, a longtime Stewartville resident, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, with the Rev. Kim Cassidy officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville.

Mrs. Stensrud died on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, of natural causes at the Stewartville Care Center, where she had been a resident since 2010.

Frances Mae Rehwinkle was born on July 23, 1928, in Elgin, Iowa, to Arthur and Myrtle (Berg) Rehwinkle. She grew up in Rochester and attended Rochester High School. Frances was married on Nov.  20, 1943, at East St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Rock Dell, to Willard N. Stensrud. The couple farmed on the Stensrud family farm in Rock Dell Township until 1950 before moving to Stewartville, where they lived for all 60 years of their marriage.

Frannie was a homemaker and was employed as a waitress at restaurants in Rochester and Stewartville. She was well known in the area as an exceptional baker, cake maker and decorator, and sold cakes and baked goods from her home for many years. Willard was a heavy equipment operator for area construction companies and was employed as a welder with the Olmsted County Highway Department until his retirement in 1985. Mr. Stensrud died on Jan. 16, 2003.

Frannie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, and was a past member of the Stewartville American Legion Auxillary. She was a past member of the Stewartville Care Center Family Council and spent many hours volunteering at the care eenter. Frannie was an animal lover, and she and Willard had many pets through the years. She volunteered with Paws and Claws in Rochester, and belonged to a cake club and card club. Frannie was a lady with many talents — gardening, making crafts, quilting and sewing. She enjoyed playing cards and games, bowling, trips up north with family and visiting with friends, and she loved time spent with Gary and Patty, Lisa and the boys.

Frannie is survived by her son, Gary(Patty) of Stewartville; granddaughter, Lisa Lonien; and great-grandsons, Justin and Luke Lonien, all of Stewartville; one sister, Shirley Collins of Aurora; one brother, Daniel Anderson of Rochester; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard; an infant daughter, Dawn; her parents; and a brother, Robert Rehwinkle.
  
A time of visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday afternoon. A light supper will be served in the Zion Fellowship Hall at 4 p.m. following Fran's service when the family returns from the cemetery. If you aren't able to attend the service, the Stensruds encourage friends to join them for the supper and to share stories of Frannie's life. 

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, www.griffin-gray.com.