Tonya "Wendy" Stuefen

Arco….Funeral services for Tonya “Wendy” Stuefen, 61, of Arco are Monday, September 14 at 2:30 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. Visitation is Sunday, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home, Utoft-Johansen Chapel in Tyler. Burial will be in Arco City Cemetery.
She died unexpectedly Wednesday at her Norwegian Creek summer camper home near Lake Benton.

Tonya “Wendy” Margaret Stuefen was born March 10, 1954 to Sam and Pearl (Sullivan) Robnett in Littlefield, Texas. She attended school in Sunray, Texas until the 8th grade when she went to work to help support her family. In the 1970s she entered the United States Air Force. Later she returned to school and graduated from Corning (Iowa) High School in 2007. She worked as a waitress, poured concrete, and framed houses. Wendy met Neil Stuefen while he was working in Brooks, Iowa. The couple was united in marriage on September 21, 2007 at Brandon, South Dakota. They made their home on the farm near Arco, Minnesota. She retired in 2009 due to health concerns. Wendy passed away unexpectedly at her Norwegian Creek summer camper home near Lake Benton, Minnesota on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at the age of 61.

Wendy enjoyed reading, cooking, camping, and animals. She was a loving wife and mother who especially enjoyed and adored her seven grandchildren.

Wendy is lovingly remembered by her husband, Neil Stuefen of Arco, Minnesota; her children, Christie Smith of Corning, Iowa and Dustin (Melissa) Bissell of Amarillo, Texas; her “bonus” children, Cindy (Evan) Faulds of Lennox, South Dakota, and Greg (Charis) Stuefen of Tyler, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Camden, Chase, and Jayln Faulds, Taetum and Aubryn Stuefen, and Jezee and Anthony Zambrano; a sister, Vickie (Ron) Choate of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a brother, Terry “Butch” (Cindy) Smith of Dalhart, Texas; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Dwain Lovett, Mary Sanders, James Smith, Louise Kilburg, Mickel Smith, and Bonnie Wall; and numerous nieces and nephews.