Nancy Gerik Stenseth

Nancy Rosalee (Gerik) Stenseth, age 75 of Grand Forks, passed away peacefully at home on May 26, after a long struggle with cancer. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by family and her husband of 52 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Abbott, Texas with Rev. Stephen Nesrsta as celebrant. Burial will follow at Fatima Cemetery. Nancy was born November 1, 1940 to the late Emil Gerik and Mary (Karlik) Gerik, and grew up on the family farm near Aquilla, TX. She graduated from Baylor University in Waco, TX in 1962, with a major in History. On July 19, 1963, Nancy married Paul Stenseth of Crookston, MN. They met while Paul was stationed at James Connally AFB in Waco and were married in Abbott, TX. After Paul left the Air Force in 1969, they lived briefly in Macon, GA, eventually moving to Grand Forks in 1972. Nancy began teaching English at Red River High School in 1974 and was there until her retirement in 2002. Nancy loved teaching and delighted in keeping her students on their toes with her dry wit. A very active and social person, Nancy was jubilant in entertaining friends and family. She was very active in P.E.O. Chapter AO, played in numerous bridge clubs, loved cooking and hosting holiday meals, and most of all enjoyed spending summer days at her lake home in Detroit Lakes. The youngest of ten children, Nancy was preceded in death by both of her parents and four siblings; brothers, Edwin Gerik and Jerry Gerik, and sisters, Leona Hanzelka and Marcella Geisler. Nancy is survived by her husband, Paul; two children, Tara (Bradford) Riley of Cincinnati, OH and Jason Stenseth of Grand Forks, ND; one grandchild, Christian Johnson of East Grand Forks, MN. She is survived by five sisters; Mary Trice, and Margie (Norm) Goldberg, both of Waco, TX; Edith Cernosek and Lucille (Jerome) Lednicky both of West, TX and Betty (Leonard) Stanislav of Parker, TX. She is also survived by sister's-in-law; Dorothy (Mrs. Edwin) Gerik of Whitney, TX and Martha (Mrs. Jerry) Gerik of West; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. The family requests that memorials be given in Nancys memory to P.E.O. Chapter AO, Grand Forks, ND.