Wendy Jean Stone (Bakken), age 64, returned to God on Friday, March 25, 2022, after a courageous journey with cancer. She passed with her loving husband Roger by her side.
Wendy was born on January 17, 1958, in Crookston, Minnesota to her loving parents Jean and Roy Bakken. She attended high school at Mount Saint Benedict in Crookston and graduated in 1976. The following year she attended classes at East Grand Forks Technical College in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. There she obtained certification as a medical transcriptionist. She put this training to use working as a transcriptionist for the rehabilitation center in Grand Forks, ND.
In 1984 she met the love of her life: Roger Stone. After an extended courtship, the two were married on March 18, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two were able to celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. In 2010 Wendy was laid off from her job as a medical transcriptionist as technology was making this career obsolete. Undaunted, Wendy chose to take this setback as an opportunity to gain some new skills. She returned to school at Northland Community and Technical College in 2011 to become an occupational therapy assistant. She graduated with honors from this program and found work in Thief River Falls until a job became available at Valley Transitions in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Wendy’s family members marveled at all the deep friendships she made through her relationship with Roger and her work. Wendy’s kindness seemed to come back to her multiplied through these friendships. Her love extended beyond, her husband, family, and friends to include several cats and dogs over the years. She had a true passion for giving unconditional love to her pets. The newest four-legged member of Wendy and Roger’s family, a young dog named Cooper, continues this legacy of being a recipient and giver of this love.
Upon hearing of the death of his older sister, Wendy’s youngest brother John wrote the following text to his siblings: “A part of us died today. But she lives on in all of us.” How true. She taught us so much about humility, kindness, and courage. May we carry these lessons forward in our lives. We take solace in knowing that the angels are welcoming Wendy’s beautiful soul home with songs of joy.
The family would like to thank Dr. Dentchev of Altru Health for his caring support throughout Wendy’s journey with cancer. The family would also like to thank the amazing staff at Valley Transitions for the loving care they showed Wendy over the last two weeks of her life.
Wendy was preceded in death by her father Roy O. Bakken.
She is survived by her loving husband, Roger Stone of Grand Forks, ND; her mother, Jean Bakken of Crookston; her brother, Tom Bakken and his wife Traysiah Spring of Blaine; WA; her sister, Lori Solheim, and her husband David of Fertile, MN; her sister, Diane Haugen and her husband Scott of Crookston, MN; her brother, John Bakken and his wife Mary of Eugene, OR; her sister, Amy Bakken and her significant other Jason of Fargo, ND; as well as five nieces and two nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, April 8, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM followed by a memorial service celebrating Wendy’s life at 6:00 PM at Amundson Funeral Home in Grand Forks, ND.
