Lowell Paul Stevens

Lowell Paul Stevens, 77, passed away with his family at his side on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the Givens Estates Healthcare Center. Mr. Stevens was born on September 12, 1934 in Austin, Minnesota to the late Lowell Hartson Stevens and Mary Katherine Rose Stevens. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gerald and David Stevens. Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Mary K. Stevens and their four children, Timothy Stevens and his wife, Amanda, of Andover, MN, Anne Desotelle and her husband, James, of Asheville, NC, Joseph Stevens and his wife, Nancy, of Garner, NC and Patrick Stevens of Hartford, CT; a brother, Richard Stevens; four sisters Marjorie Vanyo, Jane Pecka, Susan Surratt and Vickie Angen; six grandchildren, Danya, Bethany, Tim, Samantha, Tobias, and Henry as well as one great grandchild, Asia. Lowell lived a full rich life surrounded by friends and family at all times. A graduate of the 1957 class of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, he lived most of his adult life in Grand Forks, ND where he was the proud owner/operator of a mattress manufacturing business, Stevens Mattress Mfg., with his father and siblings until 1999. He was a Boy Scout leader at St. Mary's Church in 1960s where he gained a love of camping and the outdoors which he passed on to his children. Faith was always an important aspect of his life and he was active member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in downtown Grand Forks. One of his great pleasures was spending time on his small fishing boat with his children at "the lake". A funeral mass will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday December 21, 2011 at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden with Father Adrian Porras officiating. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's association of western North Carolina (3800 Shamrock Drive Charlotte, NC 28215 or at www.alz.org). Lowell was a husband, father, grandfather and friend. The lasting impact of his memory will be cherished.