April 21, 1919 – Jan. 2, 2007
Lois N. Stenberg. 87, died Jan. 2, 2007 at Brookstone Alzheimer’s Care Center in Salem.
She was born April 21, 1919 in Salem to David and Lora Cummins. Her father owned and operated a moving business in Salem. His work vehicle had hard rubber tires and was the second truck to come to Salem.
Her mother died when she was 3 years old. In 1939 Mrs. Stenberg moved from Salem to Sweet Home with her close neighbor friends, the Minches.
In 1941, Roy Minch built the house at 1705 Long St., next to the high school where Mrs. Stenberg lived for over 50 years. Mr. Minch operated a machine shop across the street where the River of Life church now stands.
Mrs. Stenberg began work at the Bank of Sweet Home on Long Street as a teller in the early1940s. She was there during the time armed robbers held up the bank on Aug. 29, 1947. She married Charlan V. Stenberg on July 26, 1948. He was then working at the Safeway store in Lebanon and later transferred to the Sweet Home store to manage the produce department.
When their first child, Steven was born on Feb. 2, 1956, Mrs. Stenberg stayed home. During this time she took interest in a new venture that her close friend Marie (Minch) Bradley was starting, ceramics.
They enjoyed making ceramic pieces together and in time, Marie’s Ceramics on Main Street grew into a successful business.
A second son, Charles (Chuck),was born on Jan. 26, 1959. Mrs. Stenberg returned to banking at the First National Bank in 1965 after Charles entered the first grade.
She was a charter member of BPW (Business and Professional Women) in Sweet Home and throughout the 1960s was involved with the annual Sweet Home Beauty Pageant. She also enjoyed snow skiing at Hoodoo ski bowl and waterskiing on Foster Lake.
In 1982, she retired from the First Interstate Bank. Charlan also retired from Safeway that same year. During retirement they enjoyed gardening, volunteering with the Sweet Home Ambassadors and attending church at the Sweet Home Community Chapel.
Mrs. Stenberg was a giver and a helper in the community which resulted in many close friendships over the years.
She is survived by her son, Charles (Chuck) Stenberg and wife Kelly of Salem; halfbrother, Harold Cummins of Salem; nieces, Lora Abrams of Salem, Barbara Cummins of Tualatin, Earlene Flatch of Sheridan and Julie Sullivan of Arlington, Wash.; daughter-in-law Rita Stenberg of Lebanon; six stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlan; son, Steven; two brothers, David and Ray; one sister, Clara; and a half sister, Elsie.
A memorial service for Lois will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Community Chapel in Sweet Home.