Howard Clifford Stensaas was born June 14, 1926, at Red Elm, Ziebach County, South Dakota, the third child of Arne Julius Stensaas and Amy Evelyn (Ross) Stensaas. He died in Kent, WA, June 18, 2011, at the age of 85 years, four days.

The family moved from Ziebach County to Clay County in 1931 where Howard was enrolled with his two older brothers and younger sister in the Clay County rural schools. Later, the family moved to Volin in Yankton County where Howard completed elementary school at Oakdale Joint District No. 26, Yankton County Rural Schools.

He received confirmation instruction with the Rev. Peter M. Fjaire and was confirmed in the Volin Lutheran Church.

As a youth, Howard was an avid reader, often reading late into the night by the light of the kerosene lamp. He was also a horseman and the master of a part Arabian saddle horse named Prince.

Howard was among many young men who volunteered for service soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was among the U.S. Marines in the battle of Iwo Jima, generally regarded as the bloodiest battle of the war. He spent many months in military hospital recovering from his wounds and was awarded the Purple Heart.

After the war, he was employed as an automobile mechanic in Sioux Falls and Salem, SD. Later, he relocated to Seattle where he was a shipfitter for Todd Shipyards and also worked for Boeing. He had a residence in West Seattle.

In October 1974, he married Betty Ann Kowalski of the Seattle area. After the marriage ended, Howard and Betty remained good friends for many years.

After a number of years of retirement, he was stricken with Alzheimer's and entered an Alzheimer's facility. During those years, his care was attended by his sister, Helen M. McBride, and his brother, Wesley A. Stensaas, both of the Seattle area. Upon Helen's death, his care was primarily by his niece, Karen McBride Rassilver.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Gerald Eugene; three sisters, Amy J. Liesinger, Helen M. McBride, and Elsie L. Blackwell; three brothers-in-law, Chester Stuen, Russell Liesinger, and Larry Blackwell, and a sister-in-law Darlene Nelson Stensaas.

Remaining siblings are Albert Stensaas and wife, Molly, of Canistota, SD, Marie Stuen of Sturgis, SD, Harlan Stensaas and wife, Vianne, of Okmulgee, OK, and Wesley Stensaas and wife, Malinee, of Seattle. Many nieces and nephews also remain.

Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery with Pastor Bill Meirose officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established to the Alzheimer's Association.

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