Carol Mae Stevens

1928 - 2026

Carol Mae Stevens

December 8, 1928 - March 25, 2026

Carol Mae Stevens peacefully exited her earthly domain on March 25, 2026, at Our House in Menomonie, after an impressively long and productive life. She was born to Emil and Mamie (Behling) Finder on December 8, 1928, and was raised on a fertile dairy, hog and chicken farm within Lucas township of western Dunn County. As the third of five children, she undoubtedly learned to assert herself with two older and two younger brothers. At the age of 17, Carol applied for a position at ATT by conveniently listing her uncle Walter Finder (who happened to be a highly respected ATT phoneline foreman) as a reference on the application form. She soon started with ATT as a switchboard operator at the Dewey Street facility in Eau Claire while renting a room with three other work associates. With Carol as the likely ringleader, one can imagine the various shenanigans that these four young women were involved in. It was during this time in Carol's life that she met Melvin Stevens from Eau Claire's (bloody) Ninth Ward, and on June 23, 1950, they formally forged a meaningful life together which included building a house in the middle of a nearly barren farm field on Eau Claire's west side.

Carol likely leveraged her Roaring 20's birth decade as well as farm upbringing to create a work hard and play with gusto disposition. After starting on the lower rung as a switchboard operator, Carol eventually moved on to ATT's Scheduling as well as Network Administration Departments where her attention to detail and sociable personality lead to meaningful working relationships and lifelong friendships. One of her numerous ATT "public relations" accomplishments involved planning and executing lively group trips to dinner theaters / plays and Green Bay Packer preseason games which typically involved stocking each bus with home-baked bread and a wet bar. As a devout member of the Telephone Pioneers of America Eau Claire Chapter, Carol helped fundraise and host meaningful events for disabled veterans at the Tomah VA Hospital as well as to help build an Altoona city park. Her active support for the ATT Pioneers eventually prompted her to receive the 1974 / 1975 Wisconsin Pioneer of the Year award which was proudly displayed on the wall of her bedroom. Carol's profound civic support included performing food preparation and delivery functions for Meals on Wheels, fundraising for United Cerebral Palsy events, working within the Eau Claire Moose Lodge kitchen, and being a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Carol also dutifully visited less fortunate relatives and friends, picked trunk-loads of strawberries and then gave such away, created stunning ceramic items that are cherished by numerous individuals across the US, religiously attended family as well as class reunions, and tagged along with Melvin through upper mid-west antique / junk shops in search of old clocks for his own vintage timepiece repair / restoration hobby.

It is said that humility is the casual acceptance of one's own greatness. It is also said that nobility is not a birthright, but rather, such is measured by one's actions and integrity. Given these two definitions, it can be stated with conviction that Carol continuously displayed a heightened level of humble nobility through her strong work ethic as well as selfless care and support for others. To all of Carol's family and close friends, please take pride in having associated with someone who served as an exceptional role model for both her peers and forthcoming generations.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Mamie Finder, husband Melvin Stevens, brothers Gorden Finder, Don Finder, Lyle Finder and Jim Finder, as well as numerous other cherished relatives and close friends. She is survived by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, as well as dear friends / work associates from the ATT Pioneers, the Eau Claire Moose Lodge and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

Carol's celebration of life will initiate at 10 am on Thursday, April 2, for a one-hour visitation followed by a funeral service at 11 am at the Eau Claire Moose Lodge on Curvue Road (Cty. Rd. C), which is located in the southwest (Shawtown) area of Eau Claire. Pastor Josh Toufar will preside over the funeral service and a lunch reception will immediately follow. The family wishes to extend special thanks to those who actively supported Carol's physical, emotional and spiritual needs throughout her later years. Many thanks must also be given to the exceptionally caring and professional staff at Our House in Menomonie, St. Croix Hospice, the Eau Claire Moose Lodge and Olson Funeral Home.

Memorials for Carol Mae Finder may be made to United Cerebral Palsy or to a similar human support charity.

To share a memory, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com