Deanna Stephenson

Deanna L. Stephenson, age 76, of Canby, Minn., passed away Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in St. Stephen’s Cemetery Canby.  Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.
Deanna Lynn (Kraft) Stephenson was born on Dec. 16, 1948, to Gordon and Edna (Burmeister) Kraft. She was raised on a farm outside of Canby. She attended a small, one-room country school just down the road from the farm. When they closed the country school, she attended Canby High School and graduated in 1966.
After graduating she worked as a nurse’s aid in the Ivanhoe, Minn., hospital. She met David Stephenson and they were married on Sept. 19, 1970. They were blessed with two children, Roxanne and Michael. They purchased the one-room schoolhouse where Deanna went to school and made it their home to raise the family.
Deanna worked as a secretary in the Canby High School district office for several years. When David started his own mechanic garage, “Dave’s Auto Repair”, Deanna took on the book work and record keeping. She also worked as the meal site manager for the senior’s meals at the Canby Community Center.
Deanna enjoyed flowers and gardening, the family site had a large garden and several apple trees and some pear trees. Deanna would freeze and can the produce for the winter and passed on the process to her daughter. After David retired and sold the shop, Deanna got into beading and jewelry making. She was proud of the jewelry she made. David and Deanna would also make Belgian cookies and lefsa around the holidays. There would be a table full of containers with cookies in to give to friends and relatives.
Deanna is survived by her daughter, Roxanne (Ernest Jr) Rosa; son, Michael Stephenson; two granddaughters, Ashlyn Stephenson and Amanda Rosa; two great-granddaughters, Natasha and Holly Olivas; a half-brother, Lawrence Kraft; two sisters-in-law, Diane Henrickson and Linda Hans; and several nieces and nephews.
Deanna was preceded in death by her husband, David; her parents; and two half-sisters, Rosemarie Nomeland and Merlaine (Ainy) Talyor.