Alvin LeRoy Stene

About Alvin

Alvin Leroy Stene was born April 2, 1938 in rural Littlefork, MN to Roy and Gladys (Bogart) Stene, number three of five children. He was raised in Littlefork where he attended elementary and high school, graduating in May of 1957. He lived in his beloved Littlefork his entire life, until his passing at the Littlefork Care Center on March 31, 2023.

While in high school Alvin was active in FFA and football until a knee injury sidelined him from the game. He then became the team student manager. He enlisted in the US Army in May of 1956. He was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, MO for his basic training and also attended Camp McCoy, WI. His military career was cut short due to medical issues and he returned home to Littlefork. He received an honorable discharge from the US Army on October, 1957.

Alvin and Shirley Parmeter Anderson were united in marriage in April of 1968 at the Littlefork Lutheran Church. This union made him an instant stepfather to eight children – Connie, Linda, Jim, Steve, Mike, Larry, Mark and Gary Anderson. To their marriage one son, Dale Stene, was born. They had a busy home.

Alvin held many jobs in his life some of which included baking at the Littlefork Bakery and Schultz’s Bakery in International Falls, working at Boise Cascade and Mcgarry Bros. Construction. His love of the outdoors and the woods eventually drew him to cutting pulp for some of the Littlefork area loggers. A couple of rather serious logging accidents eventually forced him to put down his power saw and retire.

Alvin enjoyed reading: old westerns, Louis L’Amour books, Reader’s Digest and National Geographic magazine were a few of his favorites. He also enjoyed spending summers in his garage building bird houses, wishing wells and tomato cages for his yard, as well as for friends and family members. Unfortunately, Macular Degeneration of his eyes eventually made both of those things impossible for him.

He loved flowers and plants and always insisted on filling his flower beds in the spring. He enjoyed Halloween and always made sure he had goodies for the little trick or treaters that came to his house. When Christmas time rolled around, you could be sure he would be one of the first in line at the Littlefork Lutheran Church lutefisk supper, many times escorted by his sister Karen.

One of the highlights of his life was a trip to Sequoia National Park with his sister Ann and brother-in-law Dewey to see the giant redwoods. The size of those trees definitely left an impression on him and he spoke of that trip frequently.

Alvin is survived by his son Dale Stene, stepchildren Linda, Jim, Steve, Mike, Larry, Mark and Gary Anderson, his beloved sisters Karen Stelton and Kathy Treat and brothers-in-law Frank Stelton and Vern Treat and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, his parents Roy and Gladys Stene, brother Leland Stene, sister Ann Bangen, brother-in-law Duane Bangen, stepdaughter Connie, grandson Garrett Anderson, his maternal grandparents Annie Mae and George Jason Bogart, his paternal grandparents Gust and Carrie Johnson and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

We know that kindness abounds in the little City of Littlefork, Alvin’s forever home, by the way his many friends cared for him over the years. From the kind-hearted, generous friend who supplied a Gator for him for his mode of transportation for his trips to the café for his morning coffee, to the kind friends that supplied him with delicious, home-cooked meals and home-baked goodies, to the staff and nurses at the Littlefork Care Center who so lovingly cared for him during the last year of his life. His family is forever grateful to you all.

Alvin wrote his life’s story his way on a daily basis. He was always an adventurous person and stories abound of his childhood, teenage and young adult years of his life. A legend, of sorts, in Littlefork. We can only hope he left his footprints on many hearts over the years. Many of his kind friends left their footprints on his. May his memory be blessed.

memorial service

There will be no public memorial or funeral service per Alvin’s wishes.

A private family burial service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, Blackduck, Minnesota at a date and time yet to be determined.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home