Stener John Carlson was born in White Butte, SD on February 12, 1930, as the 6th child of 7. He was raised on a ranch and spent a lot of time with horses. After his early school years, he attended college in Brookings, SD and last 2 years at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO for pre-vet. He was active in college rodeo as a bullfighter and rodeo clown. He also put on rodeos in Lemmon, SD.
Stener played football at South Dakota State University and Colorado State University. He has two years of R.O.T.C. and spent time in the Army after college at Fort Sill, OK with the artillery branch. After the Army, he spent 7 years in Climax, CO working at the Molybdenum mine as Mill Supervisor.
He married Frances Ellen Kukal on July 31, 1954, which began 69 years of a loving marriage. Together they started a family with 3 children Susan, Brad, and Bart. When they lost their children at young ages, Stener and Fran were able to trust in God and continue living a life of love and happiness with their two sons Stener and Kenny.
Stener and Fran went into business for themselves by purchasing and operating a motel in Walsenburg, CO. With their 2 boys they owned and operated 8 motels in Nebraska and Colorado, including building a 72-unit motel in Kearney, NE. His family spent 45 years in the lodging industry.
In August of 1976, Stener and his family made the move from Kearney to Loveland. Then, in June of 1977, he moved his family to the RJ6 Ranch west of Loveland where he boarded horses. They operated a bed and breakfast at their guest house for 10 years and then continued entertaining guests and family.
Stener and Fran enjoyed cruises to Alaska, a trip through the Panama Canal, trips to Mexico and many more family vacations, cruises, and fishing trips.
Stener was quite an artist of Western paintings, cartoons, and illustrations of Rodeo books. He made the family's Christmas cards and cards for all occasions.
Stener's hobbies include playing Bass fiddle with various bands, cutting hair (mostly college kids and his 2 boys), elk hunting, cartoons, skiing and was a wonderful dancer. A man of many talents! He attended the Lutheran church since childhood and looked forward to church on Sundays with the whole family. And, like a true Norwegian, he loved those Lutefisk dinners!
Stener passed away at 93 years old and is preceded in death by 2 sons Brad and Bart, a daughter Susan, 5 sisters, 1 brother and his parents. He is survived by his wife Fran, 2 sons, Kenny (Linda) and Stener (Jackie), Granddaughters Brooke and Page (Lawson) and Grandson Camden ‘Bubba’ (Angela) and 4 Great-Grandchildren Blair, Pi, Rosie, and Bodie.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loveland on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, Stener’s family requests that donations be sent to the Larimer County 4-H Foundation at P.O. Box 270371, Fort Collins, CO 80527 or online at www.larimercounty4hfoundation.com (click donate today then memorial giving).
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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