Carol Jean Stoebner

Carol Jean (Bietz) Stoebner passed away peacefully on June 30 at the age of 78 years after a brief stay in hospice where she was surrounded by her husband Joe Stoebner, daughter Tamara Schryver, son Jeff Stoebner, son- and daughter-in-law (Robbie Schryver, Renee Stoebner), and seven grandchildren (Conor Stoebner, Parker Stoebner, Addison Stoebner, Jett Schryver, Gia Schryver, Bennett Stoebner, and Samantha Stoebner). Additional familial survivors include her sister Shirley Huber and brother Ken Bietz and their families. 

Carol was raised on a farm in Tripp, South Dakota, by Arthur and Rosie Bietz, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade. For high school, she and her brother drove to town, where she met and dated her sweetheart, Joe Stoebner, marrying him at age 20. Joe and Carol attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, both getting a degree in education with their first teaching jobs in McIntosh, South Dakota. Carol’s specialty was teaching 4th grade. 

Joe and Carol later moved to New Salem, North Dakota, for new jobs, where their first daughter Michelle was born. Michelle died two days after birth of an unknown cause. 

Later, Joe and Carol moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, where Tamara and Jeff were raised. Carol stayed home with the kids in their younger years and taught piano lessons from home. Shortly after, Joe and Carol purchased a small office goods company called Office Machines & Furniture (OMF), where Joe had been working. They became co-founders of what is now known as AVI Systems, Inc., an employee-owned global leader in the tech industry with 1,000 employees in 30-plus states. 

As the business grew in its early years, Joe and Carol moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and finally Minneapolis. Carol worked directly with Joe for 26 years until her retirement in 2006. Joe and Carol spent winters in Florida and countless hours with their grandchildren. 

Carol was active in volunteerism, an accomplished piano player, and attended her local church. She had a dry sense of humor, loved the holidays, and loved to shop, especially with her sister Shirley. Carol loved family events and always welcomed more to her home and table. 

Carol was preceded in death by Willis Bietz (1935), Michelle Ann Stoebner (1968), Arthur Bietz (1994), Rosie Bietz (2008), and Charlie Lynn Stoebner (2008). 

The family is asking that instead of sending flowers, please consider contributing to Carol’s favorite charity, the Prop Food Shelf in Eden Prairie. Individuals can donate to the Prop Food Shelf by clicking the button below on this link and selecting “The Carol Stoebner Memorial Fund” in the “Campaign” drop-down menu. Your contribution is a great way to ensure Carol’s compassion for others lives on.

Carol’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on Friday, July 21, at 4 p.m., with a dinner to follow. The address is 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN, 55318. Please contact Jeff Stoebner at (jeff@stoebner.com) or Tamara Schryver (tamaraschryver@gmail.com) to RSVP. It is unnecessary to purchase tickets for the Arboretum to attend Carol’s Celebration of Life. 

Washburn-McReavy is handling arrangements.