Malcolm C. Stephenson was born June 13, 1913 in Colman, SD at the home of his mother''s parents. He spent the first year of his life in a sod house in NW South Dakota, where his parents were proving up a claim. The family moved to Lake Wilson and Worthington, where he graduated from high school in 1931. His college hopes were dashed, as family reverses took his savings, and the Depression set in. The family moved to Albert Lea, where he worked at various jobs for several years. He moved to Mankato in 1936 to travel selling sports and recreation products to schools and teams. In 1941, he moved to Rochester to travel for a different firm in the same field. He was with this firm until 1947, except for a year during WWII during which he ran a grain elevator in Grand Meadow for his wife''s family. The spring of 1947 found him and a partner, Jim Pofahl, opening a sporting goods supply business called Gopher Athletic in Owatonna, MN. From a small beginning, the company grew and expanded. The partners hired sales people and eventually covered all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Stephenson put together one of the first dealer catalogs in the U.S., which was very successful, and brought in business from around the nation. The company was a pioneer in the silk screen field. The company became known as a leader in the sports field. In 1975, Gopher was sold to National Computer Systems. Stephenson stayed on as President of the new firm for one year to train a replacement and another year as a consultant. He retired in 1977 and became an active consultant. He served on the board of the National Sporting Goods industry and the Hall of Fame Committee. He worked with factories to develop safer equipment and was on the Southern Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions. He was known for his help in promoting women''s athletics in schools. He was a featured speaker at industry workshops, college classes, state and national athletic gatherings. He was active in his church, Trinity Lutheran of Owatonna, serving in many positions. He was congregation president and chaired the Board of Trustees, two call committees, and a synod committee. He was active in building the new church. He was president of the Owatonna Library Board for many years. He put together a program to microfilm all of the local papers back to 1870 and helped a hard working committee raise the needed funds. He joined the local Score business advisory group and was chairman for several years. He initiated the 55 Alive Mature Driving program in Owatonna and taught classes for 15 years. He also served on the boards of Senior Place, Steele County Historical Society, school board and newspaper advisory boards. Stephenson wrote a column in the Owatonna People''s Press for 15 years about local interests and problems, that was well received by the public. He researched and wrote a history of the Owatonna County Club (1919-1992) and the Brooktree Golf Course (1963-2003). He also developed a resource guide for seniors in Owatonna after a serious car accident that almost took his life. In retirement, he became interested in genealogy, and wrote histories of his and his wife''s families. A two week trip to Norway allowed him to research family roots there. He loved sports of all sorts and played and watched them. He played over 145 different golf courses in the U.S., over 80 of them with his wife. They traveled extensively and spent winters in Florida and Texas. He was a member of Kiwanis, Elks, Senior Place, and a former long time member of Rotary, Owatonna Country Club and Brooktree Golf Course. He married Constance Torgrimson on July 27, 1941 at the home of her parents in Grand Meadow, MN. It was a long and happy marriage. They had three children: Judy (Gene) Probst of St. Paul, Cindy (Ron) Toppin of Hastings, and Jim (Susan) of Trinidad, CA. They had 5 grandsons and 2 step granddaughters. Malcolm and Connie lived in their own home in Owatonna until her death in February, 2008. At the time of his death, he was in St. Anthony Park Home recovering from a broken leg. To the end, his memory for names and the people he met were phenomenal. He will be remembered for his way with people and his wonderful stories. He turned 95 the day before he died, and said 'I''m going to mark my birthday, then I''m going to be with my wife.' Memorial services have been set for Friday, July 18th at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at Bear Creek Cemetery in Grand Meadow. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Trinity or the Owatonna Library. Michaelson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Visitation: 07/18/2008 10:00 07/18/2008 11:00 Service: 07/18/2008 11:00