Paul Adolph Stenseth

Paul A. Stenseth, age 86, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, passed away Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Memorial Graveside will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Fatima Cemetery near Abbott, with Deacon Terry Timmons officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by the West Veterans Honor Guard.

Paul the son of Adolph and Oral (Lomen) Stenseth, was born on February 9, 1939, in Crookston, Minnesota. He was raised and educated in Crookston, graduating from Crookston High School in 1957. Paul later attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1961.

Following his education, Paul entered the United States Air Force and was commissioned in 1962 after completing Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He served as a navigator with the 8th Bomb Squadron, flying B-57 aircraft. During his military service, Paul was stationed at several locations, including Da Nang, where he supported air operations in Southeast Asia during the demanding and hazardous Vietnam era. He was awarded multiple Air Medals in recognition of his exceptional airmanship, courage, and the successful completion of important missions under difficult conditions. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1969.

While stationed at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas for navigator training, Paul met Nancy Gerik. They were married on July 19, 1963, in Abbott, beginning a marriage that would span more than five decades.

After leaving the military, Paul attended Merrill Lynch training in New York and briefly worked as a stockbroker in Macon, Georgia. In 1972, Paul and Nancy settled in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he began his professional career as a Trust Officer at First National Bank, later known as Alerus Financial. Paul spent many years working in the trust department at Alerus. Grand Forks remained his home for the remainder of his life.

Paul believed strongly in service to others and giving back to his community. He served on the Board of Directors of the Prairie Harvest Foundation, supporting efforts to provide stability and opportunity to those in need. He also volunteered for many years with the Grand Forks Mission, offering his time, leadership, and compassion in service to others. These commitments reflected his lifelong sense of responsibility and quiet dedication to making a difference.

Paul enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, singing, and traveling. He found particular joy and peace at the family lake cabin on Munson Lake near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Nancy, who passed away on May 26, 2016; his brother, Dave Stenseth; brothers-in-law, Edwin and Jerry Gerik; and sisters-in-law, Leona Hanzelka, Mary Trice, Marcella Geisler, and Edith Cernosek.

Survivors include his daughter, Tara Riley; his son, Jason Stenseth; his grandson, Christian Stenseth-Johnson; his sister-in-law, Shirley Stenseth; his nephew, David Stenseth; his nieces, Lynne Campion and Maren Stenseth; sisters-in-law, Margie Goldberg, Lucille Lednicky and Betty Stanislav; and numerous nieces and nephews on Nancy's side of the family.

Paul lived with integrity and duty, and in the end was met with the same steadiness and respect he gave throughout his life.

You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of Paul in our memorial guest book found at www.aderholdfh.com.