H. ORRSON "OATS" STEN

Hans Orrson “Oats” Sten, 72 of Devils Lake formerly of rural Webster, ND passed away at the Heartland Care Center in Devils Lake on Saturday morning, April 6, 2013 with family at his side. Funeral Services for Oats will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Lyle Belleque officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Oats will be Derrall Myers, Gene LaMotte, Gary Bryn, Keith Ness, Todd Gette, Ned Kruger, Rick Weed and Lorne Sateren. Honorary Bearers are Dr. Roberto Moraleda and the Staff of Mercy Hospital and the Heartland Care Center. Music will be congregational hymns and special music provided by Kevin Regan, soloist and Lynda Pearson, pianist. Hans Orrson, son of Hans and Klara (Berg) Sten was born on April 1, 1941 at Devils Lake, ND. He grew up on the family farm in Freshwater Township, south of Webster and attended the Freshwater Township School. He farmed with his Dad and eventually took over operation of the farm. In the winter months, he worked at the Devils Lake Farmers Union. Oats was united in marriage to Leona Joan Pulst on December 27, 1975 at Devils Lake. They lived and farmed together, side by side until selling the farm and moving to Devils Lake. Oats then worked for Soper Brothers Construction and Soper’s Service Station. In 1981, the family moved to a farm at rural Webster and he worked for area farmers, John Baker and the Ness family for many years. The family decided to move back into Devils Lake in 2002 and Oats worked for Black Construction, Pete Hanson at the Highway 2 Station and at Wally’s in the produce and bakery department. Due to increasing health problems, Oats retired in 2005. Oats was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, active in the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department and the Channel 7 CB Coffee Club . Oats and Leona assisted the Civil Defense Department as Weather Watchers and also transporting emergency blood products and in search and rescue operations in the area. He also enjoyed membership in the Devils Lake Elks and Eagles Lodges and the Odd Fellows. In early years, Oats enjoyed hunting and fishing but in recent years he enjoyed watching and feeding deer, squirrels and wild turkeys. Oats was an avid reader and was frequently found “tinkering” around the shop. He had many talents and that included being a good cook and baker. If you couldn’t find Oats in the house you knew he was outside soakin up the sun and visiting with the neighbors. There was never any doubt how much he loved his family and how very proud he was of his children and grandchildren. We will miss his “ooh-aahs” but will keep his memory in our hearts forever. Oats is survived by his wife of 37 years Leona; son, Travis Lee Sten and Kristi Herden of Crary, ND and daughter, Kaycee Lynne Olson and Troy Johanson of Devils Lake; grandchildren, Abbey Jo Olson, Kadrien Lee Sten and Mataya Amber Sten and step grandson, Dagan Daniel Arendt; sisters, Marilynn and her husband Stan Kruger of Sheyenne, ND and Sonja and her husband Bill Gette of Langdon, ND; mother-in-law, Jenny Pulst of Devils Lake and many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents Hans and Klara; grandparents and father-in-law, Lester Pulst.