Melvin Morris Stener

Please click here to join in the Celebration of Life for Melvin Stener on May 6, 2024 at 1:00 pm

Mel passed away on April 29, 2024, at the age of 81, in the Regina Wascana Grace Hospice, surrounded by the love of his family, some of whom were able to spend time over his last few days in-person, and some from a distance. Mel was born on July 21, 1942, in Algrove, Saskatchewan, the youngest of five children of Lars and Olga Stener. He married Ella Mae Carslon on December 19, 1964, and shortly after they moved to Snow Lake, Manitoba. Soon they were blessed with three children—sons Sheldon and Kevin, and daughter Candace. In 1975, the family moved to Punnichy, Saskatchewan, where Mel and Ella Mae, with no experience to speak of, purchased and operated a general store. They sold the store in 1991 and semi-retired, but still owned and managed up to 10 rental homes in Punnichy. Mel and Ella Mae were not the type to slow down much, preferring to remain active working on their rental properties and assorted other jobs around town. In 2019, they sold their house and their rental properties in Punnichy and finally did retire to Regina. 

Mel left school and home early in life to go work. He worked diamond drilling in the bush in northern Manitoba, before moving to Snow Lake where Mel began a 10- year career working underground in an iron ore mine achieving journeyman status. In addition to working full-time underground, Mel worked part-time jobs to earn extra income to provide for the family. Mining was physically demanding, and he and Ella Mae knew they did not want to raise their family in an isolated community, but wanted their kids to have the opportunities that living in the south could provide. They took a chance and moved to Punnichy where they owned and operated E & M General Store for 16 years. The hours were long, as anyone with a small business knows, but he and Ella Mae enjoyed being in the public and their personalities and hard work meant the store was successful. After they sold the store, Mel continued to work, including doing plumbing with Bart Eliasson or farming or doing maintenance on the rental houses – he was not one to sit still. 

Mel was always active in the community volunteering for any and all events, and he was a member of the Legion and the Lions Club. He was also a volunteer firefighter for many years. Mel and Ray Moldowan acquired the Punnichy Theatre, in part to give his kids parttime work, and he added projectionist to his list of skills. He also ran a sanitation business in Creighton. 

Mel loved dancing, playing cards and games. He loved spending time at casinos and live country music shows, especially old-time fiddle playing. He loved socializing and spending time with his many friends, and Mel was known for his quick wit and great sense of humour. Mel and Ella Mae loved traveling and spent many happy vacations on cruises abroad and road trips far and wide, finally summering at Fishing Lake for several years.

Following Ella Mae’s passing, Mel was fortunate to meet Madelaine Galenzoski, and to share the past two and a half years travelling, gambling, card playing and dancing. The family is so thankful for the love, support, and comfort provided by Madelaine and her family to Mel during the past year as he faced his health challenges. 

Mel was predeceased by his parents, Lars and Olga Stener, his brothers, Leonard and Norris and his sister Darlene. He is survived by his son Sheldon (Janine) Stener and granddaughters Katie and Sarah, son Kevin (Tracy) Stener and grandchildren Davin (Rielle), Taryn (Brandon) and Brett, daughter Candace Dormuth (Brent Wicker) and grandchildren Jrake and Meagan, sister Ruth McDonald, brother-in-law Chuck Carlson (Mary), and many nieces and nephews and other family members.

Our family is incredibly thankful to the staff on the Oncology unit at Pasqua Hospital, the compassionate team at Regina Wascana Grace Hospice, and in particular, Dr. Greg Baumann, who brought such peace and kindness to Dad and our entire family in his final days