Angela Marie Sternhagen

Angela (Angie) Sternhagen was born June 6, 1937, at the old St. Luke’s Hospital in Alexandria to Rev. Clarence H. Jenson and wife Alice (Krogstad) Jenson.  She was joined in marriage to Deryl W. Sternhagen on May 16, 1964, at the romantic Little Brown Church in the Vale in Iowa.  They were blessed with one son, Steve. 

Angie started doing childcare at the age of 13, she then worked in retail selling and stockwork.  At the age of 17 she began her favorite profession – being an honest cashier at the Andria Theatre.  Throughout her career she took pride in having her drawer come out perfect at the end of her shift.  Angela graduated from Central High School in 1955.  Her education was at the Alexandria Area Technical Institute and the External Degree Program through Moorhead State University.  She was licensed as a Computer Operator on the early IBM mainframes.  Angie worked as a nurse’s aide, owned two sales businesses - Avon and Cheerful Cards and in later years sold Fortunate products.  During her Avon career, Angie earned numerous awards for high sales.  In her later years of cashiering, Angie’s biggest thrill was seeing the fourth generation of families come in and shop with her.  Many in the Alex area will remember her at Tom Thumb and the laundromat next door, Super America, the Antique Mall and various flea markets.  Angie and Deryl also owned and operated several rental properties. 

Angie loved God, her family, her home in the country, her gardens, pets, and fishing area lakes.  She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and was a member of the Trønderlag of America.  She did extensive family research and created many large books of history for her family.  She will be remembered in church for singing in the choir and numerous cantatas, participating in the Women’s Missionary Council and being on the prayer chain. 

Angie died on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Alomere Health in Alexandria, MN at the age of 85.  She leaves behind one son, Steve; nephew, Steven Engelhardt; niece, Sharon Engelhardt; sisters-in-law, Arlene Henrichs and Marlys Kniss; her husband’s nephew, Dean Sternhagen and niece, Kim Block; cousins, Gordon Jensen, Genell Lee, Shirley Harvell, Joan Muniz, Harvey Israels, Gaylord Helgeson, Elaine Hasleton, numerous second cousins all over America and her church family.  Angie was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Deryl; her parents, Rev. & Mrs. C. H. Jenson; sister, Evangeline J. Engelhardt; brother, Cordell H. Jenson; aunt, Elzoe Helgeson Lott; and cousins, Ralph Orme, Daryl Ryman and Bruce Israels. 

A Celebration of Life will be held 10:30 AM at Reach Church in Alexandria, MN on Saturday, April 15, 2023.   A visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Anderson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at Reach church on Saturday.   Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Alexandria.