Donald C. Stephensen was born April 30, 1932, near Alden.

He passed away in the Lake View Memorial Hospital in Two Harbors on Sunday, August 17, 2003, being 71 years and 3 months of age.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in Cavallin Funeral Home in Two Harbors, and continuing from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. service on Thursday, Aug. 21, in Sychar Lutheran Church in Silver Bay officiated by the Rev. Paul Taintor. Private family internment will be at Sawtooth Mountain Cemetery, Beaver Bay Township.

Donald spent 46 years of his life working in the printing trade in Alden, Albert Lea, Rochester and Minneapolis until his retirement to Silver Bay in 1994 to an area that they loved. Sgt. Stephensen served two years in the military as a paratrooper. In his retirement years, he worked as a tour guide at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Phyllis, and five children: Kathy Jo (Brad) Benzick of Pequot Lakes, Minn., Diane (Dave) Dilley of Silver Bay, Minn., Sheryl Stephensen of Silver Bay, David (Susan) Stephensen of Silver Bay, and Bradley (Amy) Stephensen of Bloomington, Minn.; eight granddaughters and seven grandsons; one great-grandson; and two sisters: Fern Larson of Blue Earth, and Edith Haugen of Amboy.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Nels and Marie Stephensen; two sisters: Lillian Larson and Ester Simonsen; and one grandson, Joshua Dilley.

Don was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.