Sara Clara Stoen

Sara Clara McCurdy was born February 10, 1914, on the family farm near Anamoose, North Dakota, the daughter of Patrick and Sarah (Cowan) McCurdy. Sara left home at the age of 16 years old and entered the convent in Minneapolis, MN. After spending two years in the convent she lived and worked at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Sanborn, ND, for several years. At age 20 Sara moved to Fargo, ND, where she lived and worked at St. Mary's Cathedral as a housekeeper and cook. The summer of 1936 she moved to Norwegian Grove to help her sister, Ellen, and other families in the farming community. Sara was united in marriage to Morris Stoen on October 8, 1942 at the parish of Pastor E. O. Stenson. Sara and Morris farmed and raised their family near Pelican Rapids, MN. Sara also worked at Pelican Valley Hospital in Pelican Rapids for several years. Morris died November 23, 1984.Both of Sara's sons served in the Vietnam War. Her youngest son, Marcus, died in March of 1971 during the war. She was very proud to be a Gold Star Mother.Sara was a member of North Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, MN, and the V.F.W. and American Legion Auxiliary.Sara Stoen, age 98, died Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at Pelican Valley Nursing Home, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota .She is survived by her daughter-in-law Carolyn Stoen, Pelican Rapids, MN; special nephew Dennis (Carolyn) Stoen, Fergus Falls, MN; special niece Charlotte (Frank) Moline, Mercer Island, WA; granddaughter Nancy (David) Rooks, Rogers, MN; great-grandchildren Tyler, Emma and Molly Rooks; and many nieces and nephews.Sara was preceded in death by her husband; sons: Marcus and DuWayne; grandson, Robert; sisters: Margaret, Ellen, Elizabeth, Mary, Ceil, Katherine; brothers: George, Lawrence, Patrick and Francis.Funeral Home:Larson Funeral Home304 3rd Street S.E.Pelican Rapids, MNUS 56572