Obituary for Laila Geneva Stenberg Laila Geneva Rannestad was born November 27, 1921 to Anton and Anna (Otterstad) Rannestad in Tioga, ND. At age 2 she moved with her family to Minneapolis, graduating from North HS and the Minnesota Business College. She also studied music at MacPhail School of Music.
In 1946, Laila married Alvin “Bud” Stenberg while he was a student at Luther Seminary. After Bud’s ordination in 1948, they began a ministry in the ELCA that they shared for 60 years, serving congregations in Glyndon, MN, Scottsbluff, NE, East Grand Forks, MN, and Horace, ND. They started congregations in Dilworth, MN and Scottsbluff, NE.
During those years Laila worked as a church secretary, organist, and choir director. She was an accomplished accompanist. She served as District President of the Northern Minnesota ALCW and on the Board of Regents of Concordia College, Moorhead, MN from 1974-1977.
After Bud’s “retirement” in 1985, she moved with him to Mesa, AZ and went on to start a congregation in Arizona City and served Casa Grande, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Saranac Lake,NY and Roosevelt, MN, as well as these communities in North Dakota: Walcott, Kindred, Leonard, McLeod, and Cavalier, ND. Laila was proud to serve with her husband in ministry, proud of her children and grandchildren, and continued her ministry at Eventide in Moorhead, MN even after Bud’s stroke in 2000 and his death in 2008. She became a mentor and cheerleader at Eventide in Moorhead, MN for nursing home staff and chaplains, as well as maintaining a visitation service to others.
She directed the Eventide choir until age 92. In 2014 she moved to Rochester, MN to be nearer her son and family. Laila is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sisters Sylvia, Evelyn, and Lillian, and step sister Ruth.
She is survived by her brother, John (Deborah Davis) Rannestad, daughter Mary (Bruce) Post and son Mark (Charis) Stenberg, along with 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Laila died July 18, 2018 at age 96 with family at her side. A memorial service for her will be held at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 2815 57th St NW, in Rochester at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 9, 2018.
Visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in Buxton, ND, at a later date. A special note of thanks is directed to the staff at the Rochester Rehabilitation and Living Center and The Homestead at Rochester, who continually showered Laila with kindness during her stay there.
Mahn Family Funeral Home – Rochester Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Friends may share a memory at www. mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Laila Geneva Stenberg please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Visitation , AUG 9. 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Hosanna Lutheran Church 2815 57th Street NW Rochester, MN, US, 55901 Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Laila’s Visitation begins.
Memorial Service , AUG 9. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Hosanna Lutheran Church 2815 57th Street NW Rochester, MN, US, 55901 Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before Laila’s Memorial Service begins.
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