Marvin Strande

Marvin Strande, 93, of Hatton, ND passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 at Hatton Prairie Village in Hatton. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Hatton, ND. A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be in the Ringsaker Cemetery, rural Cooperstown, ND.

Marvin Alfred Strande was born on June 5, 1927 to Ivar and Thea (Struckness) Strande, on their family farm 6 miles east of Hatton.  His mother and children moved to Northwood after Ivar passed away at a young age, leaving Thea a single mother with 6 children.  He attended and graduated from the Northwood School and was confirmed at the Ebenezer Church in Northwood.

Marvin joined the Navy in January of 1945, and served in the SeaBees on Guam.  He was active in the Ebenezer Church serving on the council and teaching Sunday school, and later served on the council at Beaver Creek Church.  He also served on the city council in Northwood and took leadership roles in community functions.

He married Dolores Olson on August 30, 1947.  They lived in Northwood, owning and running the local Bakery from 1947-1974.  After selling the Bakery, they moved to Wyoming where he worked in construction on soda ash plants for 11 years.  They moved back to Hatton, ND in 1985 where he set up a woodworking shop and made many custom pieces of furniture. 

He had many young visitors in the middle of the night at the Bakery, visiting and getting a pastry or two.  The kids knew to head to the basement of the Bakery if Marvin gave the word, as the police were coming in, to also get a little lunch and see how Marvin was doing.  He was good at playing pranks on locals as he was next door to a local bar, and closing time at the bar might have been entertaining for some.  Later, he enjoyed when school kids would stop by and visit him in his wood shop. He was also known for giving away many $2.00 bills.  He would have helped anyone who needed a helping hand or an encouraging word.

Marvin loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and having his great grandchildren visit when they could brightened his day. He enjoyed visiting with everyone; he was interested in what people had done and what they were currently involved with.   He loved to go fishing and enjoyed many fishing trips with friends and family. 

 He is survived by his children, Douglas (Louise) Strande of DE, and Mary (Brad) Meldahl of rural Sharon.  Grandchildren; Mike (Jessica) and Paul (Ruth) Strande.  Chris (Ali) Meldahl and Sarah (Phil) Schettler.  Great grandchildren include; Sophia Strande, Caden, Regan, Ava Schettler,  Olivia and Brady Meldahl, and  Samantha and Josephine Strande. He is also survived by one sister, Vivian Finnie, of Grand Forks.

Marvin is preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, his parents, sister; Gerda, brothers; Iver, Nels, and Melvin, and grandson; Mark Meldahl.