Constance Joyce Stensaas

Stensaas, Constance Joyce

Age 87 of New Hope, passed away peacefully at home on July 25, 2021. Shortly before her death all her children and grandchildren got to be with Connie to celebrate her birthday. A wonderful goodbye.



Connie was a source of joy to all who met her. She was a loving mom and a very involved grandma. She was the true epitome of living out a Christian life...Always seeing the best in people and never speaking negatively about anybody. She highly valued family and friends...but would also find out anybody's life story soon after meeting them...waitress, nurse, bank teller, gas station guy.



She was born to Margaret and Maurice Stephenson in Beresford, South Dakota in July 1934. After one year at St. Olaf College she fortuitously moved on to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD where she met the love of her life, Stan Stensaas. After graduating, Connie taught elementary school in Granite Falls and Worthington, Minnesota before marrying Stan in June 1960.



After moving to New Hope in 1968, Connie and Stan became founding members of House of Hope Lutheran Church. She was very involved in Circle, the church library, and making lefse and krumkaka for the annual Lutefisk Dinner (after all she was 100 percent Norwegian!). The church was her second family.



Connie loved children and worked for ten years at the Ark Christian Daycare at Calvary Lutheran Church as the head teacher. She also loved to host and attend get togethers with family and friends, decorate for the holidays, bake Scandinavian cookies and tend her garden flowers.



She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Stan. She is survived by children Mark "Sparky" (and Bridget) Stensaas of Wrenshall, MN and Mary (and Shawn) Ringhofer of Cottage Grove, MN, sister Mae Lou (and Ben) Thompson of New Hope, MN and sister Caryl (and Gary) Gatzlaff of Plano, TX, and 4 grandchildren: Luke, Paige, Birk and Bjorn.



Funeral will be at House of Hope Lutheran Church in New Hope on Thursday, August 5th at 11am (gathering from 10-11am). Lunch will be served immediately following the funeral service.



Memorials can be made in Connie's name to House of Hope Lutheran Church for use in the church library, 4800 Boone Ave N, New Hope, MN 55428 (hohlc.org)

www.Washburn-McReavy.com

Glen Haven Chapel 763-533-8643