Muneen J Stenberg

Devahn Muneen Johnson Stenberg, 103, died peacefully at home on August 28, 2025.

She was born in Newman Grove, Nebraska on April 14, 1922 to Harvey and Bertha Johnson. She was the oldest of five children raised in a small rural farming community.

Muneen graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1940 (62 in the class). She worked at McDonald's Drug Store for two years to earn her first semester's college tuition. She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota earning a teaching degree in 1944. More importantly, she met the love of her life at Augustana, Ed Stenberg, a pre-med student. Because it was wartime (WWII), Muneen felt it was her patriotic duty to serve her country. She joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 serving in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) as a hospital corpsman and was assigned duty at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital caring for blind and amputee soldiers. Meanwhile, Ed was attending medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia. Muneen and Ed were married on September 15, 1945 in a small chapel at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. In 1946, Muneen completed two years of Naval duty and Ed graduated from medical school. Thus began a 35+ year journey with the medical department of the U.S. Army. Their three children, Eddie, Stephanie, and Kristin were born and raised during the military years. The family moved 22 times in 36 years including being stationed in California, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Georgia, Germany, Virginia and South Carolina. Muneen was preceded in death by her parents Harvey and Bertha Johnson; brothers Duane and Dewey Johnson; sister Marilyn Stevens; husband Ed Stenberg; son Eddie Stenberg; daughter Stephanie Jones; and grandson Andrew Mullins. She is survived by daughter Kristin Mullins and husband Benny; granddaughters Alyssa Froelich (Tom), Heather Cornwell (Richie), and Amanda Lynch (Stephen); grandsons Ben Jones (Bissy) and Jason Jones (Jennifer); twelve great grandchildren Zachary Elliott (Kaitlyn), Billy, Heath, Colby and Elizabeth Cornwell; Andrew and Matthew Leighton-Jones; Magnolia, Quinn and Cleo Cordova-Jones; Catherine and Andrew Lynch; great great granddaughter Avery Grace Elliott; sister Dolly Johnson; sister-in-law Pat Johnson; son-in-law Barney Jones; a few cousins and many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. Special thanks to her loving caregiver Kathy Huff.

Muneen moved to Bristol in 1995 to be with her daughter Kristin and family where she lived until her death. She was a lifelong Lutheran and longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She was also very proud of her Norwegian heritage. A devoted mother, she was a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Bluebird leader when her children were young. An avid fan of crossword puzzles and stylish fascinator headbands, Muneen was also a talented cross-stitcher and baker of thousands of delicious sugar cookies. She enjoyed attending plays at Barter Theater and Bristol baseball games.

Muneen was a loving, kind, generous, and sweet soul. Everyone who met her immediately loved her. She radiated goodness and joy and will be remembered for her genuine care and concern for others. She touched many lives in her 103 years on earth. She will be greatly missed, but Heaven is brighter and her family is forever grateful for this beautiful angel.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bristol, Va. Visitation will be at 1p.m. and the service at 2p.m. Women are encouraged to wear facinator headbands in Muneen's memory. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Barter Theater, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Redeemer Lutheran Church would be greatly appreciated.

The family of Muneen Stenberg is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 276-623-2700.