Visitation: Visitation, with family present, will be Wednesday, June 25 from 5-7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD.
Service: Memorial services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton, SD. A private family burial will take place prior to the service.
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Doris Fladmark was born October 9, 1923 at Leeville, South Dakota. She lived with her parents/family in Sioux Falls as well as Canton and around Moe, SD. She attended grade school at Moe country school and in Canton, spent 2 years at Augustana Academy, and graduated from Canton High School in 1941. She also worked a couple years as a legal secretary for attorney Harold Bogue. She married Hans Stensland on June 6, 1943 in Canton, SD. For 65 years they farmed south of Canton. They moved to The Inn on Westport in November, 2009. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary in June 2017.
Doris’ favorite Bible verse was the Lord’s promise in Psalm 91:15-16: She will call upon me, and I will answer her; and I will be with her in trouble. I will deliver her and honor her. With long life I will satisfy her. Doris said “God has been good to me. I have had a few hard times, but the verse reflects the way my life has gone.”
She was active in the community including Extension Club and Sons of Norway. She and her family belonged to Lands Lutheran Church until 1984 when they became Charter members of Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton, SD. She was very active in her churches, starting and leading many bible studies. She was instrumental in starting outside summer service at Moe Parish Park, and also initiated “Tell it Like it is” musical (July 1971) at Moe Parish Park.
But mostly, it was family that brought the most joy – children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She traveled to Norway several times to visit relatives and also spent some winters in Florida. She had many talents of writing, needlework/Hardanger, and painting.
She had a deep interest in family history and pioneer life and is proud of her Norwegian ancestors. She found her great-grandmother’s old Norwegian hymnbook. Inside was written “Johanna Overseth, 1887, Philippians 3:20”. On looking up this Bible reference she read “For our citizenship is in heaven”. Doris became curious to know more of Johanna’s life and times. That research held a special fascination for her and in fact, this research resulted in the writing of Haul the Water, Haul the Wood.
Doris wrote 10 books – the last one when age 99 years. She wrote 4 historical novels, two devotionals, a cookbook, a county newspaper column (Sioux Valley News), poetry/free verse (collection of writing and free verse about Christian life, nature, family, special days, and remembers days past) and contributed to three books (Prairie Faith, Pioneering People, history of Lutheran church in South Dakota, Love of the Land, and Moe Parish Pioneers. She had about 50 articles in national church magazines. Doris received the 2012 Individual Governor’s Award for History from the South Dakota State Historical Society. This Individual Award recognized her for her work in describing southeastern South Dakota history through a variety of sources, including three historical novels.
Doris is survived sons Vernon (Ronda) Stensland, Sioux Falls, SD & James (Patsy) Stensland, rural Hudson, SD; daughter, Susan Stensland, Omaha, NE; brother, Ken Fladmark; 7 grandchildren: Kristen Cudmore, Joseph Stensland, Brian Stensland, Sarah Donley, Matthew Stensland, Jeremy Stensland, and Jonathan Stensland; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter; along with numerous extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Hans, 2 infant sons, her parents, 3 brothers.
Memorial services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Redeemer Free Lutheran Church in Canton, SD. Visitation, with family present, will be Wednesday, June 25 from 5-7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD. A private family burial take place prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Redeemer Free Lutheran Church, Canton, SD or charity of your choice.
Dear friends in Christ,
Our sympathy and prayers are with you all as you mourn and yet celebrate your wonderful Mom Doris’ life. What a testimony that she left in her lifetime!!
In His love,
our thoughts and prayers are with you. so sorry, may she be in peace . prayers to everyone to know she is with her lord.
Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss. 🙏❤️🙏
Our sincere sympathies to your family. I’ve known Doris all my life! Such a dear!
She left her words behind so they may bring joy to countless others as they have to me. I’m sad for your loss but rejoicing that she is with her Savior and best friend. ❤️🙏
Sue, your mom lived a long and fruitful life and I’m sure your family will miss her. As you said she heard her name and is now able to have breakfast with Jesus. You and your family have my sympathy and prayers for long standing peace and beautiful memories.
My prayers are with you and your families. I have have been and will continue to be be great-full to her books HAUL the WATER, HAUL the WOOD and THE MUSIC MAN of NORWAY. My great grandfather was mentioned in Haul the Water Haul the Wood and the Music Man of Norway was a story about him and his family. Andrew Kristian Indseth. My grandfather was also Andrew Kristian
Indseth ll, who carried his music forward in his life also. I am lucky enough to have signed copies of these books. She was a super person and I enjoyed her very much.
Dear Susan and family, my family and I can’t attend your mom’s funeral but wanted you to know we are thinking of you all. We are very thankful that Doris wrote those books about our family. I go back and read them once in a while! I know Doris will be missed! She was a wonderful Christian lady and a very talented author. I believe she’s up there with all the Overseth clan celebrating her homecoming! Our sympathies are with you all. From Deb Fritz, Linda Mriden, Jean Pasco, and Ron Pasco
We wish to extend our sincere sympathy to the whole family. I especially enjoyed Doris coming to have her nails done at the Inn on Westport. Bless her memory !