Kenneth Michael Stangeland, 37, died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at his home in Dallas, Texas.  Funeral services were held Friday, June 17, 2022 at Faith Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas.  Rev. James Woelmer officiated.  Pallbearers were Rev. Matthew Habermas, Jonathan Habermas, Benjamin Habermas, Rev. Brandon Froiland, Joseph Froiland, and Isaac Froiland.

Committal and burial were at James River Cemetery, rural Carrington, ND on Wednesday, June 22, at 2:00 p.m.  A time of remembrance and visiting followed at the home of Bob and Donna Mack.

Kenny was born on March 13, 1985, following his twin sister, Sara, by one minute.  His parents, Gary and Marlys Stangeland, reveled in their birth and had the time of their lives raising them with their brother and sister, Christopher and Angela.  Kenny was born again as a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism on November 3, 1985, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kensal, North Dakota.  He was confirmed in the Christian faith on May 2, 1999, at Peace Lutheran Church, Garland, Texas.  His confirmation verse was Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

His favorite thing to do was spending time with his brother and sisters, nieces and nephews, and anyone who came to visit.  He couldn’t get enough of the planning and anticipation of having company.  He was a generous people-person and got immense satisfaction by treating others with candy, cards, and gifts.  Football was his passion, particularly cheering for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Dallas Cowboys with his dad. A get-together at his brother’s, grilling steaks, watching a movie, and deciding if there was enough room for dessert was an event to be talked about for weeks beforehand. He loved playing video games, especially when he could play online with his nephews while video chatting on Sunday afternoons. Kenny’s notebooks are filled with lists counting down the days until nieces and nephews came to visit in the summer, knowing that going to the wave pool was always on the calendar.

He suffered from mental illness for almost 20 years, yet being a care-taker of others was his strength. His concern for the welfare of others, what was going on in their lives, and being part of their world, was of the utmost importance to him.

He is survived by his mother, Marlys; brother, Chris Stangeland, Dallas; sisters, Angela (Rev. Matthew Habermas), Georgetown, Ontario; Sara (Rev. Brandon) Froiland, Kansas City, Missouri; beloved nieces and nephews, Jonathan and Benjamin Habermas, Joseph, Lydia, Isaac, Emmalynn, Adeline, Hannah, and Thomas Froiland; grandfather, Carl (Pauline) Stangeland, Jamestown, ND; aunts, uncles, and cousins; friends, Richard McCann, Valeria Brown, Chad, Bobby, the residents of the House of Victory, and the staff at Metrocare Mental Health Clinic and Metrocare Pharmacy Services.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gary; grandparents, Marvin and Lucy Hoffman; and grandmother, Marlys Stangeland.

He was a beautiful spirit, a testament of God’s workmanship of goodness, mercy, and lovingkindness.  Though the world often saw a lack, Kenny was fearfully and wonderfully made, that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Kenny will be missed beyond expression and makes us longingly yearn for that day – that amazing day, that glorious day of resurrection – when we will race toward one another and embrace in a reunion that never ends. Come, Lord Jesus, come.