Charles Stephenson

The Memorial Service for Charles F. Stephenson of Albert Lea , Minnesota , will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Reverend Mark Boorsma will officiate. Friends may visit with family one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery .

Charles died on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the Albert Lea Medical

Center, at the age of 89. He was born on February 21, 1919 in Ramsey , Minnesota , the son of Charles William and Beulah(Cambern) Stephenson. His family moved to Rushford , Minnesota , when he was in 8 ^th grade. He graduated from Rushford High School in 1937. He was a member of the

football team, playing center and fullback, and the baseball team, playing

in the outfield. Charles was a military career man serving our country in the U.S. Army for more than 29 years, having served in WWII, the Korean Conflict, and also the Vietnam War. He was proud to have achieved the highest rank attainable, Command Sergeant Major, for a non-commissioned officer before his retirement. His tour of duty began when he was drafted in March of 1941 to serve with the U.S. Army Artillery in the South Pacific. He returned home in September of 1945. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1945 – 1950 while working at Queen Stoves in Albert Lea. It was during this time that he was united in marriage to Rebecca M. Hatle. They married

on November 22, 1947 in Mason City , Iowa . He was called again to active

duty in April of 1950, when the Korean Conflict began. He remained in

the U.S. Army receiving many decorations, including two Bronze Stars,

before retiring in Fort Bragg , NC , in April of 1972. He had also been granted

the opportunity to teach Artillery at West Point during his military career.

He was a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion and had served on

the volunteer Military Honor Guard for several years. He was also a member of the Elks, the Masonic Lodge and a very willing volunteer within the community.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca of Albert Lea , three daughters:

Cynthia Powell and Brad of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sandra Stephenson of Albert Lea, and Gina (Shawn) Mitchell of Rochester , MN ; grandchildren: Sarah (Brian) Busse and their children Zoe and Jackson of Fort Wayne , Indiana and Claire Mitchell of Rochester; sisters-in-law: Elaine Johnson of New Richland, Avis (Glenn) Wobschall of Waseca, Edith (John) Hansen of Washington State , Ruth Strand of Albert Lea and several nieces and nephews. He especially enjoyed sharing his stories with his nephew Rodney Hatle. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Leota Swenson, Charlotte Stephenson, LaVonne Schroeder, Elaine Stephens and brother Don Stephenson.