In Memory of Douglas V. Stenoien

Douglas V. Stenoien, age 92, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at his residence of Odebolt, Iowa.

A day and time where close friends and family can gather to celebrate the life and cherish the happy, joyous memories of Douglas V. Stenoien will be announced at a later date. 

The true heart and mission of Douglas V. Stenoien’s life was to share that God loves you, died on the cross for your sin, rose again and wants to give you life with Him in Heaven for eternity! John 3:16 was his favorite verse. This free gift is available to everyone who repents of their sin and accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. It’s all about a relationship with Jesus, not a religion. Doug wanted to share his personal love for God and his journey of faith through the last, almost, 93 years of his life with everyone that he came into contact with. He was just 3 days short of his 93^rd birthday, when Jesus called him to come home to Heaven for the greatest celebration! Doug passed peacefully on November 27^th, 2021, at home on the Ranch with his wife and daughter at his side.

Doug was born on December 1, 1928, in the back room of a barber shop in Hanks, North Dakota (he often joked as to why his parents didn’t name him “Harry”). He was the 4^th child out of ten born into the Norwegian home of Ole and Bura Stenoien. The Stenoien name came from the Stone Island Farm in Norway. His father served during World War I where the effects of attenuated mustard gas caused him to spend the last 15 years of his life in a TB Sanitarium. Being too proud to accept welfare, the children learned from a very young age the value of hard work and uniting together for the good of the family. His growing up years were in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Doug has fond memories of reading from the Bible, memorization and reciting poems, storytelling, singing and playing the harmonica (and other musical instruments) with his siblings. One of his many jobs as a boy, was delivering the Woman’s Home Journal and a paper route. These jobs afforded him his first car at the age of 15 for $100. As a teenager he did some Golden Glove Boxing. Doug’s physical strength and endurance was noteworthy. From hauling drywall to arm wrestling he remained strong all through his life. He gave his all and taught us many valuable life lessons, one key lesson was to not be a quitter. Go after your dreams, use the talents that God has given you and thank Him daily for all the blessings and protections. He provides for us.

Doug was a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago when he was invited to come to Iowa for the weekend in the early 1950’s. Little did he know, this is where he would meet the love of his life and future bride. LaVola Kolb of Ida Grove met Doug when he attended her church and her grandmother, Edith Carlson (Dodo), invited him to a Sunday picnic dinner. The rest is history! They were married on August 10, 1951.

Doug had enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 19, 1951. He served in the Army as a radio operator and volunteered for Special Ops with a high-risk front-line mission. He safely returned home to Ida Grove, Iowa and was honorably discharged in January of 1953.  Doug farmed and started a TV repair service until the bank sold him out. An opportunity to haul drywall in the Chicago area opened up which afforded him a chance to get ahead. This move paved the way to Doug eventually starting his own Drywall Trucking company with LaVola handling all the bookkeeping and payroll. He purchased a building supply company, Bel-Ra Building Material, and his hard work and long hours made it one of the leading building supply companies in the Chicagoland area. He treated people the way he would want to be treated and always went the extra mile for his customers. He had a gift of relating to people and always saw the best in them. His good judgement and keen sense of investment allowed him to succeed in the purchase and resale of several golf courses, land development of a subdivision in San Antonio, TX (South Cross Ranch), and other ventures in Texas, New Mexico, Iowa and Illinois. One of the properties in New Mexico was stolen from him by the bank fraudulently changing the paperwork. It was later found that the property was sitting on top of one of the largest oil reserves in the U.S. 

Shortly after relocating to Illinois, Doug pursued his childhood dream of flying an airplane.  He only dreamed of touching an aircraft as a young boy, and looking back now at the realization of ownership of over a dozen aircraft, to include prop and jet propelled! Starting out with a V-tail Bonanza, A36 Bonanza, P-Barons and a couple of the Dukes, which turned out to be his favorite!  He held many ratings to include his multiengine and amphibian rating which he utilized in taking family and business clients on fishing trips up to Canada. He enjoyed telling stories of fishing with his father-in-law, Delphin Kolb, who he was very fond of. Doug logged over 10,000 hours of flight time! He ferried a Helio Courier into the jungles of southeastern Peru with Wycliffe Bible Translators. He had many stories to share along with trying to communicate with some of the precious little children of this tribe. As they were taking off, the Machiguenga Indians released poisonous arrows at their aircraft. He also, test piloted an experimental aircraft with three other people on board. On takeoff they experienced engine failure. Doug was able to safely land the plane on the interstate allowing all the occupants to walk away from the crash with only minor injuries. He suffered a broken arm. Psalm 37:4 Praise God for his faithfulness and protection.  

So many happy memories of loading up the plane and taking family trips, many to Ida Grove to see family, and spontaneous afternoon trips to Mackinac Island, Michigan, for a quick getaway. Easter vacations we flew to Pompano Beach, Florida and later to South Padre Island, TX. He was a spectacular pilot and understood the mechanics of the aircraft as well. He safely navigated through some challenging weather situations, much to his wife’s dismay.

In 1986 Doug purchased the Historic Adam’s Ranch south of Odebolt, IA, from the Federal Land Bank. It was in disrepair and many of the buildings had been burned to defray taxes, but Doug and LaVola set out on the mission to restore the property. He closed the Chicago chapter of his life and returned to his love of farming and raising livestock on the Ranch. Sadly, unbeknownst to Doug, those whom he trusted betrayed him by changing the deed and stealing the tillable farm land (232 acres of marshall soil). This land income would have supported the continued restoration of the Adam’s Ranch buildings. Doug said that for him this was now a story of going from rags to riches to rags. He never wavered in his faith when the dark injustices struck his life, it only drew him closer to God. Future plans for the Ranch are to open it up as a Christian camp and retreat. Our goal is to make this part of his legacy and a powerful testimony to those who come after us. Doug especially enjoyed spending time with his daughter Sheryl’s twins, Hunter and Trinity, teaching and sharing with them stories that would help shape their young lives for Christ. He and LaVola cared for them since they were born, so this was a special bond that could not be broken. These happy memories will see us through until we are reunited. 

Doug was a man that could do anything and everything. He was able to fix anything and if he wasn’t familiar with it, he would figure it out and leave it better than it was to start. If the car would break down, he could fix it with a hair pin. He was amazing. His #1 son Darryl, was just like his dad in this respect. Darryl went home with the Lord on January 15, 2011 and so the two are now reunited and that hole in Doug’s heart is no more! A bittersweet time for those of us who are missing our talks with our husband, dad and poppy. He fought the good fight and now he’s gone home. He is at complete peace!  Well done good and faithful servant! One day, each and every one will have to answer for their life to our almighty God who sees and knows all. He is a God of Justice! Looking forward to being reunited with him forever! Thank you for being a man of God! Love leaves a lasting memory that no one can steal. We love and miss you!

Doug is survived by his wife, LaVola; four children: Gary, Sheryl, Tamala, Gwen; thirteen grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren; two siblings, Bonnie (Peterson) and Noel.

He was preceded in death by his much-loved son, Darryl; six siblings: Jerald, Muriel (Myrbo), Iola (Nelson), Camilla, Ben, and infant brother (Jackie) and sister (Ramona).