Lillian Frances Stephan

Lillian Frances Stephan was born in Crete, Nebraska on September 17, 1907 to Joseph & Rose (Vlazny) Kozak. At the age of three her family moved to Pine City to their farm north of town. Lillian started school at Green Valley School. A few years later the family traveled by train south and settled in Lamar, Missouri. The family then traveled by covered wagon with a big white horse pulling the wagon, through Kansas and into Nebraska. It was quite an experience for the three kids; Mayme, Frank & Lillian. They settled in Tobias, Nebraska where their dad was Village Marshall. In 1916 Sister Ella joined the family. All of the kids attended school in Nebraska. In 1924 the family sold their home, packed their belongings and set out for Pine City, Minnesota in an old Model T Ford. Lillian met Winfield Stephan at a dance in Beroun. They were married on September 1, 1931 and moved to their farm northwest of Pine City. For a few years, in 1936 they moved to the Stephan dairy farm homestead. Win's pride and joy were his herd of guernsey cattle. In 1963 for health reasons they sold the farm and moved to their house in the town of Pine City. Win & Lil enjoyed fishing, berry picking, hunting agates, gardening and flowers. In 1978 they enjoyed a two month trip to Alaska where they visited family and friends in the Matanuska Valley, Seward, Anchorage and Palmer. They enjoyed seeing the glaciers and the great Mount McKinley. In 1988 Winfield entered Lakeside Nursing Home in Pine City. He celebrated his 89th birthday on February 25, 1992, and passed away on March 2, 1992. Lillian resided in her home until July 1996, when she sold it to move into Hillside Court Apartments in Pine City. In April of 2007 Lillian celebrated her 100th birthday, still living independently at the Hillside Apartments. In the fall of 2007, she fell and broke her hip. After a hospitalization in Kanabec Hospital in Mora she entered the Villa Healthcare Center in Mora where she passed away April 13, 2012 at the age of 104.. She is preceded in death by her husband Winfield S. Stephan, brother Frank Kozak, sisters Ella Hansen and Mayme Houser. She is survived by her nieces and nephews: Mervin Houser of Daykin, Nebraska, Beverly (Charles) Coatney of Peru, Nebraska, Sandra Gantriis of Shakopee, Janet (Gene) Sarenpa of Finlayson, Mike Stephan of Pine City, Greg (Kathy) Stephan of Pine City, Anita (Mike) Berneck of Park Rapids, Paul (Lois) Stephan of Pine City, Mark (Robyn) Stephan of Lindstrom, Harold (Sue) Faust of Seward, Alaska, Ben (Deb) Faust of Seward, Alaska, Marcia (Jay) Goold of Anchorage, Alaska, Lynette (Mike) Waldo of Corbett, Oregon, Gary Hamacher of Palmer, Alaska, Johnny Stephan of Seattle, Washington, Jeri Nesbett of Anchorage, Alaska, Lynn (Billy Jean) Stephan of Seattle, Washington; and many friends. A family graveside service is scheduled for a later date in the Birchwood Cemetery at Pine City, Minnesota. Arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service – Swanson Chapel ~ Pine City www.funeralandcremationservice.com