Alva Stoa

Alva Rosalie Stoa, 77, of Fergus Falls, comforted by her family, peacefully passed away, Monday, February 1, 2016, under the care of Lakeland Hospice at Pioneer Care Center of Fergus Falls.

Alva was born on August 1, 1938, in Maddock, ND, to Alvin G. and Ruth (Alfstad) Nelson. She was baptized and later confirmed at Viking Lutheran Church of rural Maddock. She grew up and worked on the family farm in rural Maddock, attended Benson County Agriculture and Training School in Maddock through graduation in 1956, was an active member of 4-H and played the alto saxophone as a member of the Maddock high school “Bobcats” band.

Alva worked as a clerk at the Haukness Department Store and also volunteered at Maddock Memorial Hospital. The summer of her senior year Alva met and was courted by Don, the love of her life, and on December 24, 1955, they became engaged, and were married on June 16, 1957, at Viking Lutheran Church of Maddock, ND. Shortly after being married, they built their first home, and 1959, 1961 and 1965 brought the births of their three children; Steven Lynn, Wayne Alan, and Joni Lynn. During those years she was self-employed as a seamstress, which allowed her to stay at home while raising her family.

In 1969, the family moved to Fergus Falls, where Alva an extremely talented seamstress, cook, homemaker and decorator, cultivated her love for sewing, while creating custom suits, dresses and draperies. She took pride in everything she made and enjoyed sharing her beautiful creations with others at church functions and the Ottertail County Fair, where she was awarded many blue ribbons. Over the years, she was a member of a Bowling League, a 4-H leader and very active in Quilters groups, Church Circles, Homemakers, WELCA and various church groups. Alva, along with Don, enjoyed a variety of hobbies; quilting, furniture building and restoring and frequenting auctions and flea markets.

For several years, Alva and Don together toured the regional Craft Show circuit, selling their works under the Fine Line Crafts banner, and after Don's retirement, they were active members of the Lake Region Pioneer Thresherman's Association, where Alva helped operate the railroad depot on the grounds. She also enjoyed a number of long distance RV camping trips, where they traveled through the Midwest and Ohio Valley; Washington, DC; Amish Country in Pennsylvania; New York and the New England states and Branson, MO.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Don; her parents, Alvin and Ruth; her brothers-in-law, Lowell Hugelen and Gerald Rice.

Survivors include her children, Steven (Holly Wolhart) of St. Paul, Wayne (Teri) of Fergus Falls, and Joni (Adam) Swanson of Maple Grove; grandchildren, Amber (Darin), Lynaea (Austin), Tiffany, Cole, Tabitha and Haley; great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Cami, Natalie, Gavin, Rylie and Landen; and siblings, Donna Rice of Maddock, ND, Sandra (Hugelen) Olson of Maricopa, AZ, Marsha (Irv) Smith of Bismarck, ND, Loren Nelson of Phoenix, AZ, and Jean Nelson of Fargo, ND.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2016, at the Olson Funeral Home
Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Stan Satre
Interment: First Lutheran North Cemetery in Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls is in charge of arrangements