Gene Frederick Stensland, age 68, of Buffalo passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital after a 22 day stay due to Covid.

Gene was born November 14, 1952 in Rochester, MN, the son of Fred & Edna (Erath) Stensland. He attended high school in Kenyon and went on to graduate from UM Waseca School of Agriculture in 1973. Gene then moved to Watertown and started his life long career of selling farm implement parts. Farm numbers were important to Gene; who else would use a Case IH piece of equipment as their phone password? To farmers, his friends and customers he was the ultimate farm parts guy. He enjoyed several years of tractor pulling, with one of the tractors being Art Fortwengler’s 560 Int’l. In later years he enjoyed watching the tractor pulls with family or friends.

On April 29, 1978 Gene was united in marriage to Diane Salonek at Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown, MN. Without fail on the 29^th of each month thereafter, he’d roll over in bed and say “Happy Anniversary.” Diane truly felt blessed. He was one in a million.

Gene and Diane were blessed with and proud of their three children: Brian, Jason, and Lisa. Many have commented on the wonderful traits of the kids; they had a good teacher. He also adored their grandchildren: Maria, Connor, Chloe, and Breanna. He enjoyed hanging out with the grandkids, watching the older grandchildren’s sporting events and having google duos with the youngest granddaughter. He loved to tell jokes to the grandkids and enjoyed hearing their jokes too. Family was very important to him and he treasured the time spent with them; playing 500 or Euchre was one of his favorite pastimes. Gene had a big heart and he loved helping others. He found joy in working alongside his brothers-in-law in the field, running to get parts for farmers, researching info on farm equipment or Cub Cadet lawn mowers for people, and fixing what he could for others. He will be missed by family and many friends as he had many gifts and talents he shared. Gene was active in the St. Francis of Xavier Catholic Church participating in men’s group and Knights of Columbus.  Gene was so looking forward to the 2^nd annual Knights of Columbus toy farm show he was helping organize.

Gene is survived by wife, Diane; children, Brian (Tammy) Stensland, Jason Stensland, and Lisa (Travis) Senear; sister, Kay Stensland; grandchildren, Maria Stensland, Chloe Stensland, Connor Stensland, and Breanna Senear; father-in- law, Alfred Salonek; mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Lachermeier) Salonek; brothers-in-law, John (Lori) Salonek, Dan (Sharon) Salonek; sister-in-law, Bonnie Salonek; cousins, nieces, nephews, and numerous friends. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Fred & Edna (Erath) Stensland; brothers-in-law, Bob Salonek and Jerry Salonek.

Due to the current Covid situation, please see the Peterson Chapel website www.thepetersonchapel.com for updated service date and time. We are also planning a Celebration of Life which will take place during the spring of 2021.

While flowers are welcome, contributions may instead be sent to the Gene Stensland Memorial Fund at the MidCountry Bank in Buffalo, MN.

The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo MN served the family.  On-line condolences can be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

August 13, 1936 – November 23, 2020

James ‘Jim’ Redepenning, born August 13, 1936 to Otto and Lena (Goetsch) Redepenning in Revillo, SD.  Baptized on September 13, 1936.  Died peacefully on November 23, 2020 at home in Scottsdale, AZ surrounded by family.

Jim grew up in western Minnesota on the family farm. After high school he worked on the railroad. He married Zona Larson on May 26, 1962. Jim moved the family to Duluth, MN in 1966 where he sold World Book Encyclopedias for a short time. A new job with Allstate Insurance took them to Brooklyn Park, MN in 1967. In 1974, the family moved to Greenfield, Minnesota, where Jim continued to work for Allstate Insurance Company in Fridley and enjoyed working his hobby farm with old-fashioned tractors and machinery. Jim was the life of the party and truly enjoyed and cherished his relationships with his many long-time friends from the surrounding area. In their empty nest years, they spent many weekends polka dancing. Zona passed away too early on February 15, 1995. Church was a large part of Jim’s life. He was an active member and elder at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. Jim married Jean Evans on 12/30/2001. They enjoyed wintering in Arizona, traveling together, a wonderful friendship until Jean’s death on May 1, 2016. After moving to Arizona, he was an active member at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ. Jim loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren deeply and was very proud of each of them.

Survived by:

~Children: Andrea (Craig), daughter-in-law Shelly and Stacey (Lee)

~Grandchildren: Ryan (Paige) and Andrew (Jessica); Samantha (Ben), John, and Jordan; and Emily, Ethan, and Olivia.

~Great Grandchildren: Maisie and Harrison.

~Siblings: Violet (Dwight) Borgerson, Loretta (Orv) Folkerts, Don (Marion) Redepenning

~Sister and Brother-In-Laws: Jackie Redepenning and Butch Christensen.

Preceded in Death by:

~Parents: Otto and Lena Redepenning

~First wife: Zona Redepenning

~Son: Eric James Redepenning

~Second wife: Jean Evans

~Siblings: Dorothy (Harris) Grabow, Lillian (Leonard) Meister, Vernon (Marlys) Redepenning, Clifford Redepenning, Florence Christensen, Pete Redepenning.

~And many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date near his hometown in Minnesota.

Memorials may be designated to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 302 NE 2^nd Street, Buffalo, MN 55313, or Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, 9590 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.