Sylvia Mae Stenzel, 62, formerly of Bertha and Deer Creek, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007, at the Health Center Northwest in Kalispell, Mont.
She was born Oct. 12, 1944, in Bertha. Her mother, Verna Chase, and older sister, Jeanne, were living with Verna's sister and brother-in-law, while her dad, Harris Chase, was in the Philippines.
Harris did not see his daughter, Sylvia until she was 14 months old because of his service in the Army during World War II. When Harris returned home in 1945, the family lived in Otter Tail County with Harris' folks, Ben and Nancy, before moving to a small farm near Lyman Store. The Chases moved to Deer Creek when Sylvia was in elementary school and there she grew up and graduated from high school.
She married Roger Stenzel on Feb. 7, 1970, in St. Mary's Basilica at Minneapolis. They moved to Montana in October 1976, where she worked as a telephone operator and then as a housewife. Their son, Joseph Benjamin, was born in 1980.
She will be remembered as a loving, compassionate wife, mother, sister and friend. She lived her life with optimism, never complaining. Her caring always put others before herself. To her, life was like a song. She would come up with a line from a song in the middle of conversations. As she sang through life, her sense of humor brought everyone a lot of joy.
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They had enjoyed traveling since retirement and developed many friendships in Arizona and along the way. She loved people and writing. Her unending positive attitude, joyous spirit, and struggle with cancer the past two years have made her an inspiration. She left everyone she touched in life with happy memories and hope for the peace she now finds in God's presence.
A memorial service was held May 25 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, Mont. The Rev. David Merkel officiated and she was laid to rest beside her sister, Yvonne, in Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls, Mont.
Survivors include her husband, Roger Stenzel; son, Joe Stenzel and his wife Sara; sister, Jeanne Everhart and her husband, Doug; brothers, Michael Chase and wife Neila, and Jeffrey Chase and his wife Lynn; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harris and Verna Chase; sisters, Joanie Jean Chase, and Yvonne Acheson.
