James Stenslie
James “Jim” Richard Stenslie, 89, of Bismarck, N.D., passed away Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, surrounded by his family in Bismarck, N.D.
Jim was born on June 17, 1934, in Williston, N.D., to Kris and Marian (Elsberry) Stenslie of Watford City. Jim was the eldest of three children. He and his sisters grew up in a house right across from the school on the south edge of town.
Jim attended school in Watford City and was very active in extracurricular activities: sports, music, student government, drama, school newspaper and on the yearbook staff. He graduated in 1952. He attended NDSU in Fargo for one year; then took off a year to teach at the rural Dodge School in McKenzie County. Jim then attended Concordia College from 1954 until he graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1957. It was at Concordia that Jim met Norma Wennerstrom, a farm girl from Hope, N.D. They met in biology class. They were joined in marriage in November of 1957.
In the fall of 1957, Jim started at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul. He was leaning toward a career in psychology, but thought some background in theology would be helpful. He kept returning to the seminary for more education, but didn’t conclude that his call was to be a pastor until after his internship in Huron, S.D., in 1959-60. Jim was ordained a pastor in the newly formed American Lutheran Church in June of 1961.
Jim and Norma had three children; Karen (born in 1959), Peder (born in 1963), and Lisa (born in 1967). They also had many foster children, including three who lived with them for several years; Connie (from 1971-1973), Misty (from 1988-1991), and April (from 1992-1994).
Jim served full-time pastoral calls in Ambrose (1961-1967), Stanley (1967-1982), and Mandan (1982-1991). He then worked as a chaplain at the North Dakota State Penitentiary (1991-1995); and, after that, chaplain at Missouri Slope Nursing Home (1995-1999).
At Jim’s first call (Ambrose), he served a five-point parish: Ambrose Lutheran, First Lutheran, Trinity, Twin Buttes and East Writing Rock. He also provided chaplain services at the Fortuna Air Force Station for a while. During that time, Jim and his family also spent a year in Chicago while Jim took his CPE training at Lutheran General Hospital.
It was during their 14 years at Stanley that Jim and Norma raised their family. American Lutheran Church was a large and active congregation and Stanley was a lovely community with a lot going on. These years provided Jim, and the whole family, with many rich memories.
In 1982, Jim answered a call to form a new mission congregation in Mandan. This ended up being Heart River Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation that met on the grounds of the North Dakota State Industrial School, a juvenile correctional facility. During that time, Jim also served as a chaplain at the school and as a chaplain at the Heartview Treatment Clinic in Mandan.
Jim developed many hobbies over his lifetime. He loved and played music, mastering several instruments over his lifetime: clarinet, trumpet, banjo, tuba and trombone. He loved playing music with Norma in church, in the community and at home. He enjoyed model-building, carpentry, and fishing. He loved airplanes and acquired a pilot’s license in 1977, and eventually bought his own airplane. He experimented with sewing. He became a woodcarver and avid cyclist, participating in many CANDISC biking tours around western North Dakota. He even tried his hand at writing poetry. He was always looking for something new to learn. He loved the challenge of mastering a new skill.
In 1999, Jim and Norma fulfilled a long-held dream when they moved to their cabin on Lake Sakakawea to enjoy their retirement years. They spent 14 years there. This was a truly rich and wonderful time. There were lots of visits from children and grandchildren. The beauty of the lake and prairie and sunsets was breathtaking. One of Jim’s greatest passions was to build things, and during these years he pursued this hobby with great enthusiasm. He came up with many projects. Some were practical, some were to please various members of his family and others were just for fun. For example, he built a treehouse and dungeon for his grandkids; and a screened porch for Norma. Jim and Norma were active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church during their years at the cabin. Jim also served as vice-pastor for the Keene Lutheran Parish in the year 2001 and again from 2004 to 2007.
Concerned about the changes that the Bakken oil boom brought to the region, Jim and Norma decided to leave the cabin in 2013. They settled in the town of Napoleon and lived there for six years. They grew very fond of this little community. Once again, Jim was called on to serve the church for a while as vice-pastor for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Wishek, N.D.
Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019. He and Norma decided to move into assisted living in Bismarck to be closer to their children. In January of 2023, Jim was moved into a memory care unit, while Norma went to live with her daughter, Lisa. In September, Jim entered the hospice program and joined his wife again at their daughter’s home. He passed away on September 23.
Jim had an incredible zest for life. He truly cherished all that God had placed in his world. He loved people, loved nature, loved adventure, loved his church and loved his hobbies; but his greatest love was his family. He was always happiest when he had his family around him. That was true when he was a young father, all throughout his life…even in his last days.
Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Norma; his daughters, Karen (Joe) Larrivee and Lisa (Phillip) Stenslie-Budd, both of Bismarck; his son, Peder (Tone-Lise) Stenslie of New Town; his sister, Judy Haugen of Minneapolis, Minn., and Green Valley, Ariz,; his brothers-in-law, George Madsen of Duluth, Minn., and Don (Georgialee) Wennerstrom of Dayton, Nev.; his nieces, Kris (Dede) Haugen of Minneapolis, Minn., Jody (Jim) Klug of Catonsville, Md., Anna (David) Madsen of Two Harbors, Minn., and Else (Jon) Madsen Goltz of Anchorage, Alaska; his grandchildren, Andrew, Peder, Margaret, Isaac, Sam, Solvei, Kristian and Johan; and two great-grandchildren, Avery and Ryker.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Kris and Marian Stenslie; mother and father-in-law, Oscar and Selma Wennerstrom; his sister, Margorie Madsen; and brother-in-law, Darryl Haugen.
Jim’s Funeral Service will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in New Town, N.D. Pastor Robert Schmidt will officiate. Jim will be laid to rest at the Bethlehem Cemetery in Belden, N.D. There will be a luncheon held at the church after the burial.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed, to view Jim’s service directly on his obituary at www.springanstevenson.com.
Springan Stevenson Funeral Home of Stanley have been entrusted with arrangements and services. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.springanstevenson.com.