Alvina Stearns

     VIDEO TRIBUTE CAN BE VIEWED BELOW Alvina L. Stearns, age 85 of Spearfish, died Saturday, November 5th, 2016 at the David Dorsett Healthcare Center in Spearfish. A celebration of her life will take place 10am Friday, November 11th, 2016 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Spearfish. Visitation will take place 5 to 7pm Thursday at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in Rosehill Cemetery, in Spearfish. Alvina Louise Schwenn was born November 30, 1930 in Redfield, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Ruben and Hattie (Haessig) Schwenn. Alvina grew up in the Redfield area and later Athol and Orient where she attended school. For six years, Alvina worked at United Buckingham in Spearfish. Eventually she pursued a business degree at the National School of Business in Rapid City. She owned and operated Penny’s Bookkeeping and Tax Service in Spearfish for 43 years. In 2008 she sold the business to her granddaughter and her husband, but she never really retired. Her business and her many clients were something she enjoyed greatly. For two years, she resided at Edgewood Vista Retirement Home and since this past March, she has lived at Dorsett Healthcare Center. Alvina was a hard-working woman, especially in her younger years when she worked her way through school while maintaining a home. She had determination and a heart of gold. There wasn’t anyone she wouldn’t help. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and she will be missed very much. Alvina is survived by her daughters, Sally Scherf of Plankington SD, Sue (Harry) Forward of Dinosaur CO; sons, Alan (Tammy) Stearns of Belle Fourche, Sherrill (Sandy) Stearns of Belle Fourche; sister, Hazel Anderson of Los Angeles CA, Carolyn Nystrom of Minneapolis MN; 11 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and her two sisters-in-law, Edith Schwenn of Gettysburg, LaVern Ellwanger of Pierre; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Marvella Maxwell; granddaughter, Loreli Barnett; great grandson, Derek Wilkerson; sisters, Helen and Joyce Brown; brothers, Howard Schwenn and Clair Schwenn; and nephew, Jerry Sporer. Celebration of Life 10:00 A.M. – Friday – November 11th, 2016 Our Saviors Lutheran Church Spearfish, South Dakota   Officiant  Pastor Stephan Sandness   Honorary Casketbearer Clint Forward   Active Casketbearers Clint Carr                                  George Meza Daryl John Maxwell               Sam Podzimek Robert Maxwell                     Joshua Stearns Music “The Old Rugged Cross”, “He Touched Me” Debra Leverington, soloist Hymn – “How Great Thou Art” Hymn – “Rock of Ages” Donna Dettman, pianist   Interment Rosehill Cemetery Spearfish, South Dakota