Stella Urness

Stella L. Urness, 87, Grand Forks, ND died Friday, April 4, 2008 in Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND. Stella Whaley was born July 9, 1920 the daughter of Lloyd and Sigred Whaley in Orr, ND. She attended school and graduated from high school at Orr in 1938. Stella married Leon Urness on April 21, 1940. They had farmed in the McCanna, ND area for 43 years until Leon died on April 24, 1983. Stella worked for J.C. Penney Co., for Norby"s Department Store for several years and later as a buyer for the Johnson Store of Larimore for eight years. She also worked as a tour guide and escort for Dakota Tours of Fargo from 1985 until 1992 when she retired. Stella was a member of the Elm Grove Church at McCanna and of St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Grand Forks. She is survived by a son, Gary (Clarice) Urness, Grand Forks, ND; daughter, Rita (Paul) Jehlicka, Grafton, ND; grandchildren, Becky Dvorak, Barb Urness, Bethany (Kurt) Reck, Jeff (Kim) Iverson, Dan (Becky) Iverson, Jason Iverson, Greg (Tonja) Iverson; great grandchildren, Taylor Reck, Trevor Reck, Jessie Iverson, Alecksy Iverson and Aliyah Iverson; sisters, Marlys (Leonard) Berdal, Petersburg, ND, Gladys (Bob) McCue of Texas and Myrna (Richard) Larson, San Antonio, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son and by brothers Kermit Whaley and Sam Whaley.