Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 271035
Title: Leland "Lee" M. Stenehjem Jr.
Date: 9/16/1945-2/28/2024
Inscription/Marks: 9/16/1945
Summary: Leland Manford Stenehjem Jr., 78, foremerly of Watford City, ND, passed away peacefully at his home in Phoenix, AZ, on February 28, 2024. Graveside burial was held June 14, 2024, at Schafer Cemetery, Watford City. Leland Manford Stenehjem Jr. was born on September 16, 1945, to Leland Sr. and Judith Stenehjem in Watford City. Lee was delivered at home by his grandfather, Dr. POC Johnson. Lee grew up in Watford City, attending school at the local elementary and high schools. Lee found a passion in Boy Scouts. He went on to gain the highest honor in scouting, the Eagle Scout award. Lee continued his support for scouting his entire life. Lee graduated from Watford City High School in 1963 and from the University of North Dakota, where he received his BA in 1967 and his JD degree from UND School of Law, graduating in 1970. He attended George Washington Law School in Washington DC and received a master’s in law. He served four years in the Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps (JAG) in Arlington, VA, and while there he was a social aide at the White House under President Nixon and President Ford. He served as Clerk of the U.S. Court of Military Appeals in Washington, DC before returning to Fargo, ND, where he joined the Lamb, Schaefer, McNair, and Larson Law Firm. He was appointed by North Dakota Governor Allen Olson to be North Dakota’s Commissioner of Banks and Financial Institutions, serving as State Examiner and Chairman of the State Banking Board, later as Director of Office Management and Budget from 1983 to 1985. Lee served as the Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank of Fessenden and Senior Partner in the law firm of Stenehjem, Foss, and Moore in Bismarck. He was president of Independent Community Bankers of American (ICBA) in 1996 through 1997, being the first son of a former ICBA president who served in the same office 32 years earlier. Lee was a president at First International Bank & Trust and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors until his retirement in 2007. Lee received many awards over the years. He received the North Dakota National Leadership Award of Excellence from North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer and was Northwestern Financial Review Banker of the Year in 1997. He received the Order of the White Buffalo Award from the State of South Dakota. Lee was also a published author of two books, “The GREAT the LATE (almost) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!” and will be releasing a third book in the coming months. Lee had a great passion for his country, believing we as parents and grandparents have a duty to make our world a better place for our kids and grandkids. He served it proudly!! Lee and Sue Hartmann knew each other for several years, both working in the financial industry in North Dakota. They married in 2009 and have been together for 37 years. They enjoyed traveling domestically and abroad. They were both sports enthusiasts, attending sporting events of many nieces, nephews, grandsons, and granddaughters. Lee was an avid runner for 42 years. Together they lived in Fargo, ND, and Scottsdale/Phoenix, AZ. Lee is survived by his loving wife Sue; sons, Troy Hartmann (Cindy) and Rusty Hartmann (Julie); grandsons Sam Hartmann and Brady Hartmann; granddaughter, Olivia Hartmann; brother, Stephen L. Stenehjem (Gretchen); sister, Joan Rustvang (Jon); nephews, S. Peter Stenehjem (Stacey), Erik Stenehjem (Jessica), Jeffrey Rustvang (Sidney), Michael Rustvang (Madeline); nieces, Kira Stenehjem Noll (Greg), Dr. Kristen Stenehjem, and Erin Rustvang Sidwell (Kevin); as well as numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Leland Sr., and Judy Stenehjem.
Red ID: FND_I_78526 Image ID: 595644 Image Notes: FND001 271035

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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