Visitation: Family will greet visitors one hour prior to the service at Grand Valley Lutheran.

Service: Funeral services will begin at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 at Grand Valley Lutheran Church, Canton, SD.

Tommy Stensland, age 96, died Saturday, May 27, 2023 in Canton, SD.  Funeral services will begin at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 31 at Grand Valley Lutheran Church, Canton, SD.  Family will greet visitors one hour prior to the service at Grand Valley Lutheran.

          Tommy was born on May 4, 1927 in Sioux County, IA to Ole and Severina (Midland) Stensland.  The family lived near Inwood until moving to the Canton area in 1939.  Tommy graduated from Canton High School in 1946.  He married Olive Stearns in 1951 in Canton, SD.  The couple was blessed with sons Scott and Steven.  Olive died in March of 1965.  He later married Jean (Sundvold) Benson.

          Through the years, Tommy farmed, worked at the post office and golf course, dug graves by hand, ran a mowing service with his son, Scott, and worked as a machinist at Bid-Well for many years before reluctantly retiring at age 81.

          Tommy will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his occasional stubbornness, his willingness to help family and friends, and his love for his family, especially his grandchildren.  He took pride in his cars and in his later years enjoyed going to coffee and bringing Scott’s dogs treats.   He had been a member of Grand Valley Lutheran since 1997.

          Tommy is survived by his son, Scott (Vicki) Stensland; grandchildren, Angie (Aaron) Myers, Amy Stensland, Austin “Ole” Stensland, and Annie Stensland; great-grandchildren, Kadence, Kaleb, Kolton, Milo, and Evie; step-son, Vincent Allen Benson; step-daughters Jamie Lee Hollenbeck and Rhonda Lynn Benson; along with numerous extended family and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, Olive and Jean; son, Steven; sister, Marcene; and brothers, Gerhardt, Kenneth, Trig, Norman, Hans, and Seige.