John Butte Stensland, age 88, of Wolf Point, Montana passed away January 31, 2009 in Wolf Point.
John was born in Wolf Point, Montana on June 6, 1920 to John J. and Betsey (Anderson) Stensland. He grew up and graduated from Wolf Point High School and went on to attend Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana. John enlisted in the Army and became part of the 10th Mountain Division, serving two campaigns in Italy during World War II.
John met Dolores Lowe and they married on February 28, 1948 in Wolf Point. To this union they were blessed with two daughters, Jude and Darcy, and two sons, Jack and Dale. John and Dolores were married for 56 years before Dolores passed away July of 2004.
John spent his life on the home place ranch north of Wolf Point and the cow camp on the river bottom of the Missouri raising cattle, grain and hay.
John enjoyed playing the harmonica, calling for square dances, traveling and sunrises.
John and Dolores loved to dance…. particularly at Wolf Point’s Annual Fireman’s Ball, which they considered their anniversary dance.
John was involved in numerous organizations including a member of the Elk’s, past president of Montana Cattleman’s Association, a Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede Committeeman and also a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church.
John is preceded in death by his parents, John and Betsey Stensland, his sisters, Ellen Stensland, Edna Brubakken, Cora Flaten and Fern Neubauer, an infant brother, and his wife Dolores Stensland.
John is survived by: daughters, Jude Stensland of Roseburg, Oregon and and Darcy Potter of Sutherlin, Oregon; sons, Jack (Christy) of Wolf Point and Dale (Von) of Mesa, Arizona; grandchildren,Tara (Mike) Mastel of Whitehall, Montana, and children, Dorothy, Burke and Ellis; Kari (Mark) Wilson of Winchester, Oregon and children , Alex, Zach and Elizabeth; Andy (Shyla) Kurokawa of Billings; Jim Potter of Billings; Mike Potter of Sutherlin; Vandie (Marty) Buckingham of Miles City, Montana, and children, Morgan and Ellen; Becky Stensland and daughter, Madison, of Wolf Point; J.D. (Kami) Stensland of Wolf Point; Aria Stensland (Al Schwartz) of Denver, Colorado; two sisters, Jurene Jones of Jerome, Idaho and Lily Bryan Hickel of Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Service of Remembrance will be 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2009 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wolf Point. A Memorial Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Cremation has taken place.
Memorials may be made to the Wolf Point 100 Club, PO Box 1001, Wolf Point, MT 59201 or Wild Horse Stampede Chute’s Project, PO Box 578, Wolf Point, MT 59201.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.