Feb. 4, 1957-Feb. 20, 2012
CLARKFIELD - Services for Bradley Don Stensrud, 55, of rural Clarkfield are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the church and will continue one hour prior to services. Lynner Funeral Home of Clarkfield is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to St. Lucas Lutheran Church, American Cancer Society or Avera Foundation.
Bradley "Brad" Don Stensrud left this earthly home on Feb. 20, 2012, surrounded by family and friends at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a courageous year-long battle with Multiple Myeloma.
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Brad was born Feb. 4, 1957, to Donovan and Shirley (Wolf) Stensrud. He graduated from Clarkfield Area High School in 1975 and Canby Area Vo tech in 1977 with a degree in production agriculture. Brad married his best friend, Cheryl (Heimark) on April 2, 1977. Brad and Chery made their home on the farm where he grew up in rural Clarkfield. The gifts of this union were three daughters, their spouses and three precious grandchildren.
Brad truly enjoyed whatever he did. He worked for Stensrud Farms in the family farming operation until their retirement in 2006. Brad owned and operated BC Grading township road maintenance for over 30 years, blading and doing the snow removal for up to seven local townships. Brad also worked part time at Prairie Grain Partners in Clarkfield.
Everyone knowing Brad, knew his infectious smile, gentle kindness, joking personality and strong faith. He was always willing to help without expecting anything in return. His favorite times were those spent with family and friends especially up at the lake lot, showing people how to water ski and fish, visiting around a warm camp fire and just enjoying the moment. Brad loved being with kids and taught many how to drive cars, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, boats, jet skis, motorcycles and tractors. His love of the land and its history showed in his leadership and active work with the Minnesota Machinery Museum, Pioneer Power and the Hanley Falls Threshing show. Brad served on many local boards with positions on the Cottonwood Co-Op Oil Board, Healing Waters Parish Board, and many within his home church, St. Lucas Church of rural Cottonwood. Brad enjoyed being a youth chaperon for church trips and a confirmation mentor for Healing Waters Parish, even after his own children moved off to college. Brad's faith and love were his strongest strength. He so loved washing dishes at church dinners so he could visit with the women but he would tell them it was to get his hands clean. If there was ever anything the church needed done, Brad would be there without question. How the large Christmas trees made it into church will remain his secret. Brad studied the Bible in the Crossways series and studied to be a Lay leader. His calling was not to be able to preach from the pulpit, but the lessons of his words and actions spoke more.
Brad is survived by his wife Chery his daughters and sons by choice, Jessie and Drew Syring, Jamie and Adam Martin, Jodie Stensrud and grandchildren Danielle and Madeline Syring and Austin Martin; his parents, Donovan and Shirley Stensrud and mother-in-law Marlyce Heimark; his brothers Tim (and Julie) Stensrud and Brian (and Lyn) Stensrud and brothers and sisters-in-law Charlie (and Joy) Heimark, Deb (and Dave) Werner, Rick Heimark, Carol Quenemoen, Curt (and Mary) Heimark, Allie Heimark, many nieces, nephews and god children and a large circle of very special friends.
He was preceded in death by grandparents Marvin and Beatrice Stensrud and Richard and Anna Wolf, his father-in-law, Clark Heimark and his sister Tamara.
Blessed be Brad's memory.