Vonice Marie Stene (pronounced Steen-nee), 59 of Lake Mills, Iowa, died Thursday, October 26, 2006 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday (10/30/2006) at the Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons, Minn. with Pastor Julie Fiske officiating.

Visitation is 4-7 PM Sunday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, Iowa and again one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Burial will take place at the Oak Lawn Cemetery near Emmons, Minn.

Vonice Marie Stene was born on May 16, 1947 in Albert Lea, Minn., the daughter of Virgil and Helen (Bjelland) Holstad.

She grew up in the Twin Lakes, Minn. area, graduated from Albert Lea High School &8220;Class of 1965&8221; and later graduated from Bethesda College in 1966 with a nursing degree.

On August 5, 1967, she was united in marriage with Loren Stene at Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons, Minn.

She had been working with All Continents Travel in Albert Lea the last few years.

Vonice loved her family; she was always there for them, and would do anything for her family.

She enjoyed spending time with relatives and friends, doing cross stitch, traveling, gardening, cooking, reading and camping at Silver Lake.

Vonice also had a great sense of humor, at both good and bad jokes.

Survivors include her loving husband, Loren Stene of Lake Mills, Iowa; her children, Jon and his wife Tara Stene of Zumbrota, Minn.; Erich and his wife Julie Stene, Andrew and his wife Kendra Stene, all of Lake Mills, Iowa; Amber Stene and her fianc/ John Pearson of St. Charles, Minn.; Benjamin Stene of Ames, Iowa; her grandchildren, Tyler, Jenna and baby on the way Stene, Elijah and Ella Stene, Austin and Annaston Stene, Colton and Talyn Pearson; parents, Virgil and Helen Holstad of Glenville, Minn.; two sisters, Julie Rugland and her husband, Arlo of Northwood, Iowa, and Amy Olson and her husband, Roger of Lake Mills, Iowa; mother-in-law, Mabel Stene of Albert Lea, Minn.; three sisters-in-law, JaVonne Eidahl and her husband, Konrad of Emmons, Minn., Linette Kleinschrodt and her husband, Dwight of Albert Lea, Minn., and Marion Stene and Jerry Martinson of Emmons, Minn.; as well as many extended relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Melvin E. Stene; two brothers-in-law, John Rygh and Donald Stene; and a nephew, Kary Kleinschrodt.