Erskine
- Peter R. Stensgaard, 92, formerly of Thief River Falls, died
Saturday, October 21, 2000 at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in
Erskine.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 23, at Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls with Rev. Marcia Sylvester officiating. Burial was in Grove Lake Cemetery in Pelican Rapids.
Peter R. Stensgaard was born on February 1, 1908 in Pelican Rapids, the son of Rolf and Ronnaug (Almstad) Stensgaard. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1927. Following high school, he attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, majoring in mechanical engineering and graduating in June, 1931. In 1943, he entered the United States Navy, serving in Fairbanks, Alaska, Japan and the South Pacific before his honorable discharge in 1946.
Peter worked in the fields of building construction and architecture. He worked with his brother, Hans, and together, they built churches, homes and commercial buildings throughout the Thief River Falls area. In 1979, Peter was recognized by U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Valley Home for his design and construction of the Stensgaard Bridge located at the park.
He made his home in Thief River Falls, entering Oakland Park Nursing Home in 1995 and residing there until 1998 when he moved to Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine.
Peter was a former member of the semi-professional Winnipeg Winter Skating Club, continuing to skate on a private rink at his residence.
His other personal interests and hobbies included reading, ornithology, travel, hunting and woodworking.
Pete is survived by a niece, Nancy Marinac of Thief River Falls, and a grandnephew, Tad Marinac of Burnsville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; eight sisters, Gena Rudser, Ruth Stensgaard, Ingeborg Larson, Elsie Hurst, Emma Stensgaard, Olga Hanson, Hilda Robertson and Clara Arlton; and three brothers, Ole, Ralph and Hans. A00003B2000OC25