Doug Stoebner, 69
Douglas R. Stoebner, age 69 of Menno, S.D., passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 20 at Grace Lutheran Church, Menno, with Rev. Morgan Hendershott officiating. Burial will be in the Menno Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19 at Grace Lutheran Church, Menno, with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Live streaming of Doug’s service can be found at: https://my.gather.app/remember/douglas-stoebner.
Douglas (Doug) Robert Stoebner was born on Sept. 26, 1954 to Richard R. and Maxine (Hess) Stoebner at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D. He grew up on a farm north of Olivet, S.D., where he enjoyed raising livestock and crops with his parents and siblings Kathy and Rich. He attended and graduated from Menno Public High School in 1972. After graduating, he attended South Dakota State University for agricultural education where he graduated with honors. During this time, he was in the University 4-H Club and Farmhouse Fraternity, where he made memories and met lifelong friends. He was the treasurer for the Farmhouse Fraternity and made sure if anyone started getting behind on their monthly house payment, he’d be persistently bugging them. While attending SDSU, he met the love of his life, Roberta Johnson from Parker, S.D. After graduating, he moved back to Olivet where he started farming on land homesteaded by his ancestor Stephen S. Rames in 1884.
Roberta and Doug were joined in marriage on June 20, 1976 at Grace Lutheran Church in Parker. Along with farming, Doug raised cattle and pigs, sold seed for Keltgen, and started his own business hauling livestock and hay for others in the surrounding area called Stoebner Trucking. He had returning customers, who turned into friends. For over 25 years, he was the 4-H Swine Superintendent at the South Dakota State Fair.
In 1984, they welcomed their son, Paul, and almost nine years later, they welcomed their daughter, Julie, to become a family of four. He had a very busy life and learned to make adjustments when he was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) at the age of 31, but that didn’t keep him from God’s calling. His faith was strong. He was active at Grace Lutheran Church where he served as church treasurer and Sunday school teacher. He also enjoyed participating in Lutheran Brotherhood and Saturday morning prayer breakfast and Bible study.
Doug farmed until late June of 2006, when he was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer. His life changed in a flash and he had to give up his love of farming and trucking. The doctors gave him a life expectancy of 18 to 24 months because the cancer was treatable, but not curable. Against all odds, he survived 17 years through his faith in God and countless prayers prayed by family and friends. Even his oncologist said there was no medical explanation why Doug had even survived four years.
When he could no longer farm, he spent time watching the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings and the SDSU Jackrabbits men and women basketball and football Team. It wasn’t unusual for him to watch reruns of the games even if it was past midnight. He regularly called WNAX Radio Station to answer The Impossible Question. He didn’t mind if he answered incorrectly because he could still call in the next day. However, the title of Grandpa was his favorite title. Seeing his granddaughter kept him going. God called him home on November 16 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center where he was surrounded by his loved ones.
Doug is survived by his wife of 47 years, Roberta Stoebner of Menno; son Paul Stoebner of Olivet; daughter Julie (Jay) and granddaughter Raelynn Mendel of Harrisburg, S.D.; siblings Rich (Barb) Stoebner of Minden, Nev.; Kathy (Mike) Wagner of Waukesha, Wis.; sisters-in-law Delores Johnson of Sioux Falls, S.D.; JoAnn Klein of Conrad, Iowa; Carol Viet of Parker; Julaine (Dave) Straatmeyer of Lennox, S.D.; nephews Jason (Jennifer) Wagner of Fort Collins, Colo.; Derek (Tara) Wagner of Big Bend, Wis.; Matthew (Lindsey) Stoebner of Arlington, Va.; Mary (Jeff) Chadwick of Pleasantville, Iowa; Kevin Klein of Newcastle, Wy.; Jeremy (Ameena) Viet of Portland, Ore.; Matthew (Julie) Viet of Parker; Sara (Keith) Lambert of Frankfort, S.D.; Katie (BJ) Hansen of Turton, S.D; and bonus daughter, Erika (Geoff) King of Olivet; plus many great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Maxine Stoebner; his grandparents, Henry G. and Kathrena Stoebner and Steward and Mae Hess; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Bernice Johnson; brothers-in-law Bob Klein and Ron Viet; and nephew Lee Straatmeyer.
The family will designate memorials to Grace Lutheran Church, Menno-Olivet Care Center, and the Menno Museum.
