Richard Lee Stensland

Richard Stensland Obituary

Richard Lee STENSLAND 7/20/1923 - 9/16/2006 Richard was born in Bellingham, WA, to Halvor John and Rose Herzog Stensland. He passed away at the VA Puget Sound Health Care Center, Seattle, WA from multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow). He attended the Old Redmond School Building, now Redmond Community Center. Was drafted into World War II and served in the 187th Glider Infantry and the 11th Airborne as a paratrooper. Served in New Guinea and The Philipine Islands and was wounded on Luzon Island February 13, 1945. Richard was a proud employee of The Boeing Company for over 39 years. He was also a "Barnstormer member" of the Museum of Flight. In 1965 he married Dorothy Thompson Foss and resided in Seattle. She died in 1990. He was very active and had life membership in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Up until July, 2006, Richard was an active volunteer at the VA Hospital, accumulating over 25,000 hours of service. He was also a diligent supporter of The Fisher House, soon to be constructed near the VA Hospital for veterans & their families. He was also active in DAV-1st District Honor Guard at Tahoma National Cemetary, The Honor Guard Support Group, and the King County Department of Community and Human Services Veterans Program. Richard was a scout master of Troop #423, Redmond, for many years. Survived by two brothers Donald H. Stensland, North Bend, WA and James A. Stensland, Redmond, WA and sister Marjorie S. Costello, Redmond, WA; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a world of friends. Also surviving are two stepdaughters, Barbara Erickson Nalbach, Everett, WA and Lori Foss, Anacortes, WA, and two step-grandsons, Jesse and Kevin Erickson. Burial at Tahoma National Cemetary, Thursday, September 28th @ 2:30 p.m. Memorial service Friday, October 6th at 2 p.m. VFW Post #2995, 4330 - 148th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA, (425) 883-2995. [Please carpool.] In lieu of flowers, please donate to any of Richard's aforementioned organizations.

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Published by The Seattle Times on Sep. 24, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Stensland

1 Entry

Jeffrey Stensland

September 25, 2006

Uncle Dick is the uncle I know best. He is always here with me, even though I have been thousands of miles away for more than five years. Even though he's gone, he's watching over me, wispering in my ear with that unmistakeable voice. He's been there to help me get through the hard times every time, and always inspires me.

What he accomplished in his 83 years I hope to come half as close in mine. We joked last Christmas when I was last home that I would be 23 being born in '83, and Uncle Dick would be 83 being born in '23. It seemed whimsicle at the time -- but we knew we'd see each other once we hit that milestone and have another laugh. We did, but it wasn't in the setting I'd pictured.

That day, he was at the VA. Not volunteering, barely able to walk. But he still had a smile on his face. The nurse came in and asked him how he felt, if he used a walker, the usual questions. He had a hard time placing himself in that ICU bed, unable to take on the tasks of the typical day. I witnessed him walk -- for the first time in weeks -- one of the last times in his long, amazing life. I began to cry, much like I am now. Trying to hold back the tears, but the tears winning. We spent hours that afternoon just sitting, joking, remenising of the past.

I cannot express how hard it is for me to accept that I will no longer hear him say hello with that cheerful grin in his voice, here him say "you'll do great things" as I head back to my life away from family and friends. But I promise Uncle Dick that I will press on, and fulfill my dreams and aspirations. Dreams that he facilitated in so many ways.

I may not be able to have the great things said about me at the end of my life here, but I hope I can have just a fraction of the impact my dear Uncle Dick did have.

The best thing about heaven is, you get to watch whatever news you want, and it's all commercial free. Hopefully I can teach him a little, as he taught me so much.

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