Deacon Mark Stenger, 59, died Dec. 5 at his home in Frazee, Minnesota. Visitation will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Dent (36963 State Hwy. 108) on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers.Visitation will resume at the church on Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial in the parish cemetery follows.
Deacon Mark Laurence Stenger was born Aug. 10, 1963, in Perham to Laurence and Marilyn (Moltzan) Stenger. He was baptized, received his first Communion and confirmed at Sacred Heart Church in Dent. He graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1981 and continued his education at Fergus Falls Community College where he received an associate degree in 1983. In 1984, Deacon Stenger purchased Precast Concrete Products in Vergas from his parents. The company evolved into Northwest Pipe and Tank Inc.
On Aug. 24, 1985, he married Joan Lynn Wilschewski at Sacred Heart Church in Dent. The couple had three children: Jim, Eddie and Nancy.
Deacon Stenger attended St. John’s University in Collegeville where he received his master’s degree in pastoral ministry in 2012. On June 8, 2013, he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of St. Cloud by Bishop John Kinney and was assigned a deacon for the parishes of Sacred Heart, Dent, and St. Lawrence, Perham. He then served the parishes of the NCACC until the time of his passing.
Surviving Deacon Stenger are his wife Joan; children: Jim of Vergas, Eddie (Sam) of Afton and Nancy (Nathan) Ellering of Fargo; grandchildren: Isabel, Luke and Levi; siblings: Ken (Kim), Geri (Mark) VanSanten, Linda (Darrell) Lende, Tom (Tammy) and Patty (Jerry) Klatt; friend Joe Tschida, aunt: Betty Lee; extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Laurence and Marilyn Stenger; grandparents: John and Ottillia Stenger and William and Ann Moltzan and friends: Bob Martin, Bob Herges and Buster Fiedler.
Please consider a donation to Sacred Heart Seeds to Grow or St. Henry’s Area School in lieu of flowers.