Mary Lou Odell Stenerson

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.

Ecclesiastes 3:12

Mary Lou was born May 22, 1934 in North Dakota to Ervin and Marlene (Oppegaard) Olstad. She spent most of her childhood on a farm there before moving to Detroit Lakes. It was there she met Stan, the love of her life.

They were married September 23, 1951. They made their home in Detroit Lakes and then in Fargo before moving to Lester Prairie, Minnesota. While living there she worked at Tonka Toys. She liked to tell people she put the tailgates on the pickups! They had five children which kept her quite busy! She always said “Five children and not a lemon in the bunch” In 1976 they moved back to Detroit Lakes. While there she and Stan made and sold pine furniture until Stan's death in 1998. They also kept busy with their Watkins business. She then worked at Walmart until she was 85. She was a part of a birthday club, the guild at the church, and 4H club. All this while being the best partner and mom.

Mary Lou passed away August 30, 2026 with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her beloved cat LuLu there. She was preceded in death by her husband Stan, her parents Ervin and Marlene and Stan's parents Everett and Dora.

She leaves behind her beloved family Catherine (Larry) Michaletz, Karen (Robert) Eifealdt, Rebecca Stenerson, Jeffrey (MaryLou) Stenerson, and Timothy (Wendy) Stenerson. Her sister Christine Olstad. Eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren with two more expected.

Blessed be her memory.