Burnice Stetson

Burnice "Bunni" E. Stetson went to be with the Lord on September 17, 2012. She was born to James Harold and Auda Rollins Young on January 11, 1924 in Windsor Twp., MN. She grew up in Newaygo, MI and after high school she took stenographic training in Grand Rapids, MI. She served in the Navy as a WAVE from 1944 to 1946. Bunni graduated from Adrian College in Adrian, MI with a BA Degree in 1949 using the GI Bill. On August 26, 1949 she married Kirk Stetson who entered medical school in Rochester, NY a month later. During this time, she earned her diploma in Practical Nursing and then went to work to help support Kirk through medical school and residency. Following Kirk\u0027s graduation, the couple departed for Africa as medical missionaries at Mt. Silinda Mission Station in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). They served there from 1956 to 1973 interrupted by two furloughs back to America. Two children went with them to Africa: Charlinda Sherry (1952) and Eric Richmond (1954). A third child, Lorrin Paul, was born to them in Africa in 1957. After they returned permanently from Africa in 1973, they settled in Flagstaff, AZ where Bunni earned her Master\u0027s Degree in Counseling at Northern Arizona University. She set up a Christian counseling service in Marriage and the Family. In 1992 they moved to Cottonwood where Bunni was a member of Verde Baptist Church. Bunni is survived by her husband of 63 years, Kirk R. Stetson; daughter Charlinda (Duncan) Stewart of Camp Verde; son Eric Stetson of Flagstaff; three grandchildren and one great-grandson. Her son, Lorrin, preceded her in death in 2009. She is also survived by her twin sister, Bonita Sturtevant of Newaygo, MI. A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Friday, September 28, 2012 at Verde Baptist Church, 102 S. Willard Street, Cottonwood. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 1065, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 or to the Northern Arizona Hospice, 203 S. Candy Lane, Suite 10A, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com