Elmer Sylvester Strand, 89, Mayville (formerly rural Portland) died July 17, 2004 at Union Hospital in Mayville. Elmer was born May 8, 1915, son of George and Andrea Strand.
He graduated from Portland High School and The University of North Dakota with a B.S. in Commerce. He married Alice Lee June 14, 1942. They farmed in Viking Township until his retirement in 1976. In 1988, Elmer and Alice sold their farmstead and moved to Mayville.
Elmer served on the Farmers Union Oil Company Board for twenty-five years, and for thirty-five years on the West Traill Conservation District Board. He was also President of the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts for one year. He served two terms in the North Dakota Legislature, being elected in 1955 and 1959. He was also employed in the Employment Office for one year during the legislative session. Elmer worked as a tax preparer from 1960 through 1995. He was a member of a ten-member committee that planned the switch of the Non-Partisan League from the Republican to the Democratic party. He served on the Luther Memorial Board for four years, and was a member of the Building Committee when the new Aurdal Church was built. He also served as president of the congregation.
He is survived by his wife, Alice, one daughter Adrienne (Larry) Buboltz, Detroit Lakes, and two sons, Richard and Arlie (Peggy) Strand, Mayville; seven grandchildren, Mitchell (Jackie) Buboltz, Michael (Edenia) Buboltz, T.J. Buboltz, Michelle (Chuck) Juntunen, Bryan (Meg) Strand, Chad Strand and DeAnna Sherva; 10 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Solveig Jondahl, 3 brothers, Hartvick (Evelyn) Strand, Robert (Opal) Strand and Marlow (Yvonne) Strand; sister-in-law Helen Strand; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Myrtle and brothers, Jens, Gilman and Ardell.
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Elmer had a keen interest in politics, conservation and the local sports teams.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. in the Aurdal Lutheran Church, Portland, N.D. Visitation will be Monday, July 19, 2004 from 5:00 to 7:00 with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Baker Funeral Home in Mayville. Interment will be at the Aurdal Cemetery, rural Portland.
(Baker Funeral Home, Mayville, ND)
