Charles Stenslie

Charles Lawrence Stenslie was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on Thursday, September 8, 1938, to Harry Lawrence and Helen Loretta (Mentges) Stenslie. He passed from this life into his eternal home in Heaven in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at the age of 84. Charles was the second of two children. He attended school in McVille, North Dakota and played on the state championship basketball team. He graduated from high school in May 1955 and shortly thereafter, joined the United States Air Force in September of 1955. Just a few months later he received an honorable discharge and a medical disability from the Air Force. Charles received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Valley City State Teachers College in June 1962 and began teaching history and coaching basketball. After a few years of teaching, he took a job with the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Fargo, North Dakota as a librarian and eventually moved into personnel administration, which he did the remainder of his career. He and his family moved numerous times as Charles advanced and moved into leadership positions with Veterans Administration hospitals in states coast to coast including Washington, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Virginia. Charles met the love of his life in the former Miss Mary Anne Evavold. The two married in Battle Lake, Minnesota on November 23, 1962, and had two children, a son Aaron, and a daughter Carmen. A few years into their marriage, Mary Anne was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Charles was always focused on what he needed to do to help her maintain her independence and as the disease progressed, Charles took early retirement so that he could be Mary Anne’s full-time caregiver which he did faithfully for the last 15 plus years of her life. Mary Anne passed away in 2013. After losing the love of his life, he remained active in many ways including serving on the school board of Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy as well volunteering at the Tulsa Public Library and the American Red Cross. Charles also loved to go on annual fishing trips with his son Aaron to Devils Lake, North Dakota to catch walleye as well as visit family in Fargo and McVille, North Dakota. Many fond memories were made on these annual trips with the last trip in May 2021. Charles loved his family and spent as much time with them as he could. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Cancer Society. Services for Charles have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 7, 2022, at Hayhurst Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma under the direction of Hayhurst Funeral Home. He is survived by: Son Aaron and wife Michelle Stenslie, Broken Arrow, OK Daughter Carmen and husband David Kopp, Tulsa, OK Grandchildren Evan and wife Brittni Stenslie, Ryan Stenslie, Matthew Stenslie, Jacob Kopp, Piper Kopp Sister Joan Bakke, McVille, ND He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Anne Stenslie and his parents Harry Stenslie and Helen Malo

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Charles Stenslie

September 8, 1938 - September 25, 2022