Arthur Stavens

Arthur Stavens, 96, of Hatton, ND passed away Friday, December 10, 2021 at New Perspective Senior Living in West Fargo, ND. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Hatton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Art was born on May 19,1925, at his family’s home, Pleasant Valley Farm, in Newburgh Township, Hatton, ND to Thorval and Cora Stavens. He attended a one-room country school for eight years and graduated from Hatton High School. After school, Art had many different jobs: roofing in California, construction, and the Hatton Deep Rock until 1966. He then was employed at the Grand Forks AFB in 1966, where he had various positions. He worked in the Commissary and Motor Pool driving airmen - generals to various missile sites. Art was also a bus driver for the Hatton school. He retired from the base in 1990. After retiring, he and Mark were in the tree and stump grinding business. Mark cutting the trees down and he did the stump grinding.

Art and Beverly Evonne Bjerke were married in 1949 and raised four children in the house that he personally built. Their home was home to all their kids’ friends and was always an open door for everyone. Many card games were played with him usually winning.

Community Service was very important to him. He was not a veteran, but not that he did not try. He went twice to volunteer for the military and was rejected both times with a big X marked on his form because he failed the vision test. He tried to hide the fact that he only had sight in 1 eye resulting from a BB gun accident when he was in his teens. He was baptized and confirmed in Little Forks Church. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, St. Johns Cemetery Board and closes to his heart, the Hatton Fire Department. After 70 years, Art has the record of the longest volunteer in ND and possibly in the country. He was the Fire Chief for six years and Assistant Fire Chief for three.

He is survived by his children: Sharlene Kalina, Mesa, AZ; Marlow (Connie) Stavens, Valley City, ND; Lorna (David) Brager, West Fargo, ND; and Mark Stavens (Linda Rolle) Hatton, ND; grandchildren: Brett (Ben) Kalina, Jim (Janene) Kalina, Micah Brager, Shayn Stavens, Kelly (Emily) Kalina, Traci Brager, Michelle (Steve) Dias, Erick (Joslin) Brager, Aaron Stavens; and 15 great grandchildren. He leaves behind two sisters, Emma Riley, and Elsie (Parnel) Hovland of Oregon and 1 sister-in-law, Susan (Jim)Myron.
Art is preceeded in death by his wife, his parents, brothers: Gilman, Ernest, Edwin, Earl, Thorval Jr., and Dennis; sisters: Ruth, Esther, Lillia, Hannah, Rosemary; and his granddaughter, Karisti Kalina

He will truly be missed by his family and friends.