Grace L. Tenold, 96, of Kensett passed away peacefully February 28, 2022 at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.
A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2022 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 600 5th St, Kensett, with Rev. Linda Johnson Prestholt officiating. She will be laid to rest in Kensett Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will be from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 1st Avenue N, Northwood and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made in Grace’s name to Bethany Lutheran Church or to a organization of your choosing.
Grace was born October 25, 1925 and was raised on a farm in Brookfield Township, west of Kensett, IA, the daughter of Olaf & Clara (Ostmo) Banken. She married Hardine Tenold in 1943, they had 7 children together and lived their entire lives in the Kensett, IA area. Both of Norwegian heritage, they loved family history and handed down many stories to their children.
She was a talented singer, in her youth she sang with a trio in high school, they performed at various events and they sang on live radio. Grace was a lifetime member of Elk Creek & Bethany Lutheran Churches, she sang in the choir throughout the years and was a devout Christian.
Grace was a very active community member and enjoyed the many things that Kensett hosted; such as the Annual Variety Show and the annual Christmas Boutique for which she loved taking part in the lefse baking. Grace was a member of the Kensett Library board for many years & loved reading books her entire life. She loved history and was a board member on the Worth Co Heritage Committee. She served on many boards & ladies committees at Bethany Lutheran.
She was an avid seamstress, making clothes for her children when they were young & turning her sewing talents to quiltmaking in the years following. She made many quilts & home decor items for her children & hundreds of quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She always said “When I make something for my kids – I have to make 7 of them!” Grace was honored with many purple ribbons & Best-of-Shows for her quilts at the Worth Co Fair in her later years. She was a patriot through & through and loved making Quilts of Valor for veterans.
With having such a large family, Grace had a huge garden, and did a lot of cooking, growing & canning. She loved baking & making wonderful Norwegian pastries, recipes handed down by her mother Clara.
Grace & Hardine loved their annual fishing vacation in Nisswa, MN with all the family that could come – grandkids loved it too! Beginning in 1962 & unbroken through time, they had their own fishing family of friends & bonded strongly with them over many years. Grace loved traveling & did much of it in the years following Hardine’s death in 2000. She was adventurous, as long as it did not include heights of any measure, and she loved life
She had many jobs, besides wife & mother, during her life: Farm hand growing up, candling eggs in the Kensett egg factory, grocery store clerk, seamstress at an upholstered cushion co, oil can manufacturing, USPS carrier, but her favorite job was working in the role of Postmaster at the Kensett Post Office.
Grace is survived by 6 of her children: Linda (Fran) Foresta, Ronald (Carol) Tenold, Shirley (Bob) Johnstrud, Diane Djuren (Jim Roseland), Patricia (Mark) Harris, Paul Tenold & son-in-law Steve Clagett. She is survived by 14 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren & 2 great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Hardine, daughter Mary Clagett, parents, 3 sisters & a brother, sons-in-law Jack Silverthorne & Dan Djuren.
Her favorite sayings: God is in control! It’s water under the bridge! It is what it is! God Bless You!
Grace had a huge friendship circle. She met everyone with a warm smile & welcome. She loved to laugh. Grace’s pride and joy was her large family, including nieces & nephews. The Annual Canasta Tournament in CA in honor of her mother, Clara Ostmo Banken, was an event not to be missed by anyone able to come. Such fun!
She was a wonderful mother and Grace will continue to live in the lives of her children and descendants.
Conner Colonial Chapel. 1008 1st Ave. South, Northwood, IA 50459. (641) 324-1543. ColonialChapels.com
