THORVAL B. STAVENS

Source: Unknown
November 1951

Thorval B. Stavens, Hatton Pioneer died at home early Friday morning, November 2, 1951, after an illness of several weeks.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 6 with Rev. A.E. Setness officiating. Services were held first at the family home at 1 P.M. where the grandchildren sang two songs and Mrs. Louise Awes sang a hymn in Norwegian. Services were then held at the Little Forks Lutheran Church at 2 P.M. with music furnished by Mrs. Louise Awes, Mrs. John Mark and Oscar Jemtrud. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. A. A. Kjelland, Oscar Arneson, Marcus Kringlie, Oliver Boe, Nels Pladson, August Peterson, Guy Wright, Ralph Anderson, Ed Skroch, H.M. Nash, Harold Moen, Gene Ellingrud and Mr. Baily.

Active pallbearers were Johan Hannestad, Chester Offerdahl, Raymo Mehus and Arthur Mehus. Burial was made in the churchyard cemetery.

Thorval was born October 13, 1882, eldest son of Gunder H. and Gunhild Stavens at the prairie home of his parents. Later the family home was moved down to the present site of the Stavens farm home and this remained his home until his death. Mr. Stavens grew to manhood in this community, attending the rural schools and later taking a course at the North Dakota Agricultural College at Fargo. On November 26, 1905 he was united in marriage to Emma R. Hove by Rev. A.J. Eikeland at the Little Forks Church. To this union six children were born:

1. Gilmen of Hatton
2. Ernest of Hatton
3. Edwin of Hatton
4. Ruth (Stavens) Ovrid, husband Elmer of Seattle, WA
5. Lillian (Stavens) Groth, husband Gilbert of Hatton
6. Esther (Stavens) Liljenberg, husband Fred of Seattle, WA

In November 1915, his wife Emma passed away.

In March 1916, Mr. Stavens was married to Cora Hove and to this union, seven children were born:

1. Thorval, Jr. of Hatton
2. Arthur of Hatton
3. Earl of Hatton
4. Emma (Stavens) Hovland, husband Dale of Hatton
5. Hannah (Stavens) Kringle, husband Lyle of Portland
6. Elsie (Stavens) Hovland, husband Parnell of Neche, ND
7. Rosemary - at home

Mr. Stavens was active in community affairs and held several offices of trust. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hatton Benevolent Society, which he helped organize in 1931, and also served on the board of the Steele County Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.

He was a member of the Flying Farmers and twice the summer Breakfast Flight had been held at the Stavens farm airport. Mr. Stavens had also served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II. He also served on the Newburgh Township School Board and was a member of the Little Forks Lutheran Church.

His hobby was flying in which he had taken an active interest for more than thirty years. He was one of the organizers of the old Hatton Aero Club, back in 1920, and was associated with the late Carl Ben Eielson, famed Artic flier.

Besides his wife, Cora, and thirteen children, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Ole Livedalen, Mrs. Lillie Digness and Mrs. George Mehus, all of Hatton. He also leaves 17 grandchildren.

***Inscription***
THORVAL B. STAVENS
1882 - 1951

***North Dakota Public Death Index***
STAVENS, THORVAL B:
Date/County of Death: 11/02/1951 in Steele Co.
Gender: MALE
Age: 69 Years
Date of Birth: 10/13/1882
State/County of Residence: North Dakota, Steele Co.