Royden &uot;Roy&uot; Stene, age 79, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died Monday, July 18, 2005, at his home in Lake Mills.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with the Rev. Kevin Mackey officiating. Burial will take place at Salem Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Lake Mills Otto/Chose Post #235 of the American Legion.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 20, from 5 to 7 p.m.at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, in Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Royden Wallace Stene, the son of Butler and Gertie (Hanson) Stene, was born on Nov. 15, 1925, in rural Scarville, Iowa.

He was baptized and confirmed at Lime Creek Lutheran Church, and he

attended school in Scarville.

Roy served his country in the United States Army from 1946 until 1947 as a Military Policeman stationed in Korea.

On Nov. 8, 1953, Roy was united in marriage with Thelma Nodland at Dell Lutheran Church, rural Frost. Roy was employed as a truck driver for Pierce Truck line of Freeborn, and Silver Truck line of Austin.

In 1959, Roy began farming in rural Lake Mills. In the spring of 1966 Roy and Thelma moved into Lake Mills, and Roy began working for Lake Mills Co-op Services and continued there until his retirement.

Roy enjoyed his grandchildren (especially beating them at card games), driving the Senior Citizen Taxi for the city of Lake Mills, horses, trains, planes, and helping his son-in-law during harvest season. In his later years, Roy liked to spend time feeding the local birds and squirrels that visited his front yard. In addition, Roy loved to garden in his backyard, raising potato crops every year.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Thelma; four children: Brad Stene and his wife Elvi of

Skokie, Ill., Rosanne Larson and her husband Mike of Lake Mills, Rod Stene and his wife Beth of Lake Mills, and Brian Stene of Fairmont and his friend, Missy Huber, of Blue Earth; nine grandchildren: Beth (Larson) Gretillat and her husband Tony of Britt, Iowa, Missy Larson and her fiance Jon Wacha of Lake Mills, Renae Stene and John Helland of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Sgt. Adam Stene in the U.S. Army, Sara, Karen, Amy and Lisa Stene, all of Skokie, Ill., and Emily Stene of Fairmont; great- granddaughter, Hailey of Lake Mills; a sister, Laura Pierce of Freeborn; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Harry, Elmer and George Stene; and four sisters: Millie Schmidthuber, Blanche Haugland, Martha Stene, and Maxine Gilson.

Roy will be greatly missed by his family, friends at Dean’s Barber Shop, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.