James H. “Jim” Stenerson

James Howard Stenerson, 87, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at Rosewood on Broadway with his wife at his bedside. Jim had battled with a rare blood disorder, mastocytosis, for two years.

Jim was born March 28, 1930, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fargo, ND. He grew up in Moorhead and graduated from high school in 1948. While attending Concordia College and as a member of the National Guard, he was called to serve in the Korean Conflict. He was stationed at Camp Rucker, Alabama, for two years. While he was playing in the Concordia Band, he met his future wife, Christine Larson. They were married June 5, 1951, in Fergus Falls, MN. Together they raised five sons – Mark, Scott, Chad, Paul and David.

After his discharge from the Army, Jim returned to Concordia and graduated in 1953. He started working at the family business, Stenerson Lumber Company, at the age of 14. He continued to go to the lumber yard long after his retirement in 1996 because he loved the place so much. His illness and his macular degeneration forced him to give up in 2017 after 73 years.

In 1954, Jim and Chris moved to Gonvick, MN. Jim managed the Stenerson Lumber there until 1960. He returned to the Moorhead yard to become General Manager/Secretary/Treasurer.

Jim was very active in community affairs. He was president of the Greater Moorhead Development Corporation, served on the Boy Scout Council, and was finance chairman for several campaigns for Congressman Arlan Stangeland. He was a Minnesota Representative to the White House Council on Small Business. He was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation. Active member of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). He received the Behling Award for helping to raise $2 million for the construction of the Heritage-Hjemkomst Interpretive Center. He was president of the Riverside-Prairie Home Cemetery Association for 31 years where he accomplished many valuable improvements to the grounds and record keeping, and was instrumental in the merger of Moorhead Memorial Gardens with Riverside-Prairie Home Cemeteries. He was also an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church all his life.

Jim enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes and was a member of the Valley RC Flyers. He also enjoyed playing tennis twice weekly with his tennis friends. He was an active member of the Conservative Think Tank which met each morning over a cup of coffee.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Christine; three of his sons, Scott of Fargo, Chad of Scottsdale, AZ, David (Lana) of Peoria, IL; four grandsons, Zachary (Ashley) of Phoenix, AZ, Nick (Lenaya) of St. Paul, MN, and Garrit and Grant of Peoria, IL.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Mark and Paul, and infant twin daughters. He was also preceded by his parents; brother, Gale; and sisters-in-law, Mary Beth Stenerson and Beverly Larson Nesting.

In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 17, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Memorial service will be Saturday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m., in Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN.