Gilbert Stenmoen

Gilbert Stenmoen, 99, passed into the arms of Jesus on April 22, 2019.  

Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday, April 28 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

Services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, April 29, at Parkway Funeral Service. Viewing will be one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Gilbert was a soft spoken, kind man with bright blue eyes who truly cherished time with family and friends. Gilbert was born February 5, 1920 in New England, ND to Ole and Gena Stenmoen. As a boy he worked hard on the farm alongside his dad and brothers. What he liked best was to spend quiet time on the prairie herding cattle with his favorite horse and dog.

In high school he was active with a church youth group that formed a successful quartet, they were very popular entertainment in the community, and they also sang on the radio.

Gilbert was proud to serve his country. He enlisted in the U.S Army and served in battles and campaigns in Guadalcanal, Northern Soloman Islands, New Zealand and Hawaii. He was wounded and contracted malaria during his service. Shortly after being released from the army he married Doris Thelen. Their family was complete with a son Raymond and a daughter Darleen.

Gilbert’s passion was farming, and he continued to farm into his 90s. As well as farming, he was accomplished as a caterpillar operator and mechanic. While in California he was influential in the development of working with titanium for Boeing. Gilbert was a resourceful person and could restore most things.

Gilbert and Doris moved to Mahnomen, MN and lived there for 34 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in that area. After Doris’s passing, Gilbert moved to Bismarck, ND to be closer to his farm and son, Ray.

He loved to travel with his family to various places. Dad traveled with Ray working on setting up ITV studios in schools across the state of North Dakota. He traveled to the East Coast many times to visit his daughter and grandchildren, Pat and Mike. He traveled with his daughter to Norway to tour the country and to meet relatives in Nes, Norway were his father Ole was born.

Gilbert would be truly pleased to know that you were here to honor him today.

He is survived by his son and daughter in-law, Raymond and Jan Stenmoen, daughter, Darleen Joos (Stenmoen) and two grandsons Patrick and Michael Joos.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his parents; and his siblings.