Iris Stenerson

Iris Stenerson, 84, Bismarck, passed away October 11, 2024. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 17 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. Family will greet guests one hour prior at the funeral home.

Iris Dell Stenerson was born to Robert and Mathilda (Schoon) Barrows on August 5, 1940 in Steele. At age 15, she left the family farm and got an apartment in Bismarck while she attended Bismarck High School, graduating with the Class of ’57.

Iris worked many years with the Burleigh County Extension Service. She loved walking downtown, especially during the holidays when there were extra lights and decorations for her to walk around and look at. She later became employed at the North Dakota State Agriculture Department in the Dairy Division. She worked for the Dairy Division for over twenty years and retired in 2003.

On February 19, 1962, Iris married Alvin Stenerson in Mandan. They later welcomed two children, Mark and Becky. Iris and Alvin enjoyed having company at the farm, and over the years they always had visitors with them to create many memories and make for some good stories.

Iris had many hobbies to keep busy, but her favorite was gardening. Her family doesn’t know anybody who loved picking weeds more than Iris did! She also enjoyed baking, and was especially good at making kuchen, strudels, and breads. And maybe, just maybe, Iris loved shopping a little too much – especially QVC which she had on speed dial!

In the summer months, gardening kept Iris busy. She and Alvin kept a huge vegetable garden that soon became a family affair. Iris sold her vegetables at the end of the driveway on the side of the road and quickly upgraded to a large cart in her signature purple color to hold and sell her produce. Her grandchildren and children were involved in the veggie sales, and if they ran out, Iris would send them all down the driveway to the garden to pick more vegetables! Cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage, corn – you name it, she had it! Iris had repeat customers who came every Saturday morning for their regular produce. Wanting to provide even more for her customers, she even shredded her homegrown cabbage and carrots to make a coleslaw mix.

Iris is survived by her husband, Alvin; children, Mark (Lynette) Stenerson, and Becky (Paul) Worden; grandchildren, Robert (Jennifer) Stenerson, Justin Stenerson, Miranda (Marshall) Olson, and Lucas Stenerson; great-grandchildren, Hailey Iris and Levi Robert; and siblings, Roberta Pfennig, Bismarck, and Rolene (David) Davis, Shevlin, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Mathilda; and brother-in-law, Harold Pfennig.