Gerald D. Stine

Gerald Duane Stine, 81, a resident at Tordenskjold Township, rural Underwood, MN, died on Thursday, October 2, 2014, at the Veteran Administration (VA) Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Gerald was born in Freeport, Illinois, on June 28, 1933, in Stephenson County. He was the oldest of five children. His parent names are John Grant Stine and Sybil Charity Derr. His siblings are Kermit, Dale, Marlene, and Leroy.

In the spring of 1939, John Stine and his family moved to Minnesota, to a farm outside of Underwood with his brother Earl Leroy Stine and his family. Due to hard times, John took the family back to Stockton, IL, then to Freeport, IL. The World War II came and John Stine joined the Navy Seabees. When the war ended, the family moved back to Underwood in June 1947. Gerald graduated from Underwood High in 1951.

Gerald joined the Air Force right out of High School. He married Lou Anne Deloris Anderson on July 12, 1953. One of his many duties involved flying Air Force Operational missions of the time and took him around the world, traveling all seven continents; include various countries and both poles. During his military career he and his family lived in a variety of locations to include, San Antonio, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Molesworth, England; Rhein Main AFB, Germany; Greenville, SC; Savannah, GA; Fairfield, CA; Bangkok, Thailand; Lubbock, TX; Korat, Thailand; Madrid Spain. Gerald graduated from the University of Maryland with degree in Personnel and Business Management in 1977. Master Sergeant Stine retired from the Air Force June 1977. The aircraft that he maintained and worked on includes B-17, B-29, P-51, C-45, L-20, H-19, C-47, F-89, B-25, B-26, C-119, B-50, B-57, C-124, C-131, C-133, C-124, C-141, C-135, T-37, T-38, F-4 Phantom aircraft

After retiring he and his family moved to Underwood, Minnesota. Gerald and Lou Anne built a house on South Turtle Lake and he began to work as an insurance agent with Mutual of Omaha. He worked as an insurance agent until he retired in the winter of 1997.

He was a lifelong member of Sverdrup Lutheran Church, Underwood Legion, and an active Mason. He enjoyed gaining knowledge through reading and traveling, loved ice fishing and took many fishing trips, sharing those experiences with those he loved.

Survivors include his wife, Lou Anne of Underwood, MN; daughter, Deborah (Kevin) Hoffmann of Canby, MN; son, Leroy Stine of Perham, MN; son, Terry (Connie) Stine of Oklahoma City, OK; and son, Michael (June) Stine of Fargo, ND. Grandchildren include Michelle (Jeff) Shorten, Marie (Shawn) Louwagie, Melanie (Pat) Gail, Madeline (Tim) Gail, Danny (Julianna) Stine, Scott Stine, Sara Stine, Quinn Stine, Isaac (Jessie) Stine, Matthew (Kassie) Stine, Mikaela Stine, Jacob Stine, David Stine, and Aaron Stine; Step grandchildren Andy (Jamie) Hoffmann and their daughter Bethanney, Katie (Mike) Kaiser and their son, Brady and Cody Hoffmann; one brother Dale (Donna) Stine of Dalton, MN and one sister Marlene (Melvin) Anderson of Fergus Falls. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John Grant Stine and Sybil Charity Derr and his brothers Leroy Stine and Kermit Stine.

Visitation: 5-7 pm Sunday, October 5, 2014, with a prayer service at 5 pm at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 1 pm Monday, October 6, 2014, at Sverdrup Lutheran Church, Underwood
Clergy: Reverends Nancy Monke and Todd Hylden
Interment: Sverdrup Cemetery, Underwood with Military participation by Underwood American Legion and Grand Forks Air Force Base
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls