Rodney Stavenes Thief River Falls, MN, age 60, died Friday, February 14, 2014 at Karlstad Nursing Home, Karlstad, MN surrounded by his loving family. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Ben Carlsen and Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating. Burial will follow at Our Saviors Cemetery, rural Grygla, MN. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Rodney Dean Stavenes was born on March 11, 1953 in Greenbush, MN the second of five children born to Basil and Eunice (Haugtvedt) Stavenes. Rodney was raised on the family farm in Spruce Grove Township, Beltrami County, MN. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, rural Grygla, MN. Rodney attended the Grande School, Grygla School and graduated from Goodridge High School in 1971. He was lovingly known as "Tune-a-Pipe" by his family and friends because of his love of loud and fast motor vehicles. In addition to his work on the family farm, Rodney would catch turkeys and load them for processing. He then worked on the motor bench for Arctic Cat, bridge construction for Swingen Construction, hauled equipment for Nelson Implement, bridge construction for Eickhoff Construction, and his final job was at Northern Pride. Rodney enjoyed cooking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and driving around the countryside visiting. Rodney was a patient, kind hearted man who was always ready to engage in conversation. He had a great love for children, especially his granddaughter, Isabella. Rodney always had time for the kids. Family was the most important thing in the world to Rodney, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and the Pennington County Sportsman's Club. Survivors include his loving wife, Sandy Stavenes; four children, Jason Stavenes, Loretta (Chad) Ledford, Perry (Megan) Stavenes and Juhl Stavenes all of Thief River Falls, MN; granddaughter, Isabella Ledford; siblings, Wayne (Geri) Stavenes, Joyce (Brad) Barth, Randy (Kathy) Stavenes, and Terry (Becky) Stavenes; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Basil and Eunice Stavenes. Pallbearers, Ryan Horachek, Steve Stavenes, Austin Stavenes, Sarah Moose, Ishara Harmon, Kylee Barth, Ronald O'Brien Honorary Pallbearers, All of Rodney's family and Lowell Stavnes & Roy Holthusen