Obit: Stokka, Rev. Maynard Edward (1922 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Stokka, Mortvedt, Nefstead, Bronk, Aksamit, Sauer, Burns, Swenson  

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 25, 2011

Stokka, Rev. Maynard Edward (16 December 1922 - 20 May 2011)

Reverend Maynard Edward Stokka, 88, of Pelican Rapids died Friday, May 20, 2011, at the Pelican Valley Health Center, Pelican Rapids, MN.

He was born Dec. 16, 1922, in Story City, IA, the son of Aadne Rasmussen and Selma (Mortvedt) Stokka.  He was baptized at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City. After the family’s move to Des Moines, IA, he was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church.  He graduated from Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, IA, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, and Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

Prior to internship in Montana, he married Lorraine Nefstead Sept. 23, 1945, at Marble Lutheran Church, Canby, MN.  He taught high school English and biology at Grant Consolidated High School, Ledyard, IA.  Maynard served as parish assistant to Pastor Arthur L. Swenson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, MN, and was ordained there Aug. 7, 1949.

Between January 1956 and June 1978, he served as pastor to a number of Minnesota congregations: Bethany, Remer; Salem, Longville; Zion, Boy River; (also beginning work at Outing); Rollag and Gran, Hawley; Park, Lake Park; and Hamar and Hedemarken, Rothsay.  The last parish he served fulltime was in Granton and included Zion American at Granton and Zion Pine Valley near Neillsville.  He served as interim pastor at Swan Lake Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, and assisted at Peace Lutheran Parish, Ashby.

In 1986 Maynard and Lorraine retired and moved to Little Pleasant Lake near Underwood, and in 1999 they moved to Fergus Falls.  Maynard was a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

His wife Lorraine; his parents; two brothers, Lawrence and Oscar; and a son-in-law, Dwayne Bronk, preceded him in death.

Survivors include sons, Jerome (Maria) Stokka of Pelican Rapids, MN, Joel (Vickie) Stokka of Winter Haven, FL, and Jonathan (Charissa) Stokka of Byron, MN: daughters, Patrice (Steve) Aksamit of Prior Lake, MN, Kathryn Stokka-Bronk of Big Lake, MN, and Amy Stokka (Greg Sauer) of Woodland Park, CO; 18 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN, with Rev. Kate Burns officiating.  Interment will be in Marble Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Canby.

Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials are preferred to Habitat for Humanity or the local food shelf.

Condolences may be sent online to www.olsonfuneralhome.com.