Roger Dennis Stenhoff

Roger Dennis Stenhoff of Spring Grove, MN, passed away on March 4, 2026 at 81, at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Preston, MN from complications related to dementia.

Roger was born March 6,1944, in Minneapolis, MN, to Reuben and Iris Stenhoff. He served honorably in the United States Navy from 1964 to 1968 as a radio operator, with his final assignment aboard the USS Nicholas. For his service, he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Roger attended St. Cloud State from 1968 to 1972, studying philosophy and English and meeting his lovely future wife, Karen Ann Schultz. He remained a lifelong learner with wide-ranging interests in history, social issues, and the natural world. He could often be found with the Sunday newspaper, Newsweek, or National Geographic, or listening to his favorite programs on NPR.

On May 12, 1973, Roger and Karen were married in the Twin Cities. The very next morning they drove to their country log home on their 40-acre farm along Bee Creek south of Spring Grove, MN. Their Scout vehicle pulled a trailer packed with goats, sugar for the bees, garden plants, a mattress, 100 lbs of brown rice, 50 lbs of rolled oats, and a dog—in preparation for the adventurous and self-reliant life they would build together for the next 53 years.

Roger worked for many years as a residential remodeling contractor and carpenter, operating Stenhoff Construction. His craftsmanship and easygoing nature made him a welcome presence in the homes of many clients throughout the community. Over the years he renovated countless homes and built two family homes of his own. Among the projects he was most proud of was the curved staircase he crafted in the family home. In his free time, Roger was deeply involved in his community, serving on the Spring Grove School Board, the Property Commission at Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Houston County Soil and Water Commission Board.

Family was central to Roger’s life. He was devoted to Karen and their daughters, Kelly, Andrea, and Emily. When his children were young, the family spent many weekends at horse shows and on camping trips, time spent together that we now treasure. Later in life, he made many trips to visit his daughters, including traveling to Madison, WI, and Washington, D.C.to generously lend his carpentry skills to Andrea and Emily’s renovation projects. One particularly special trip was visiting his daughter Kelly in Kenya, where they shared a safari, hikes, and time relaxing along the coast of the Indian Ocean.

Roger loved working with his hands and spending time outdoors. His interests included woodworking, furniture making, turning wooden bowls on his lathe, gardening, beekeeping, and caring for the prairie and trout stream on the family farm. His workshop was a place of both creativity and quiet satisfaction.

Roger will be remembered for his warm and genuine nature, his inquisitive mind, and his joyful laugh. He loved conversation and fellowship—family members often joked that they would be

waiting in the car after church while Roger finished one last friendly conversation. Even as dementia gradually affected his memory, his kindness and curiosity remained unmistakable. He continued to ask thoughtful questions about others’ lives, always wanting people to feel seen and welcomed.

Later in life he especially cherished time with his grandchildren: Reese, Lennox, Vivian, Sage, Oliver, and Eleanor. Whether baking cinnamon rolls, making bread, pressing apple cider, preparing pickles and salsa, or playing outdoors, Roger found great joy in sharing simple pleasures with his family.

He loved animals, especially his favorite cat, Snicket, and dog Hattie, and could often be found “tooling around the farm” on his side-by-side, tending the garden, and enjoying evening campfires at their cabin on the bluff overlooking the farm.

Roger is survived by his wife, Karen Ann Stenhoff; his daughters, Kelly Stenhoff, Andrea (Travis) Pearson and Emily Stenhoff (Spencer Strunic) and his six grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Faith, Sheryl, Patty, and Beverly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Reuben and Iris Stenhoff, and by his siblings Joyce, Jerome, and Greg.

Roger will be remembered for his kindness, curiosity, craftsmanship, and deep devotion to family. A Celebration of Life will be held in summer 2026 at a location to be announced.

Cremation arrangements are with Hoff Funeral Home in Chatfield. A military ceremony and interment will take place at the Preston Veterans Cemetery. Some of Roger’s remains will also be scattered from a bluff overlooking the trout stream on the family farm he loved.

Special thanks to the Minnesota Veterans Home - Preston, where he was surrounded with love for two years and especially in the last two months of his life.