Harold Strand

DEAN STRAND PHOENIX, AZ -- Idaho Falls native, Harold Dean Strand, 80, passed away peacefully in his home near Phoenix on Saturday, September 19, 2009, after a long bout with various lingering illnesses. Dean was born August 11, 1929, to Harold Sigurd Strand and Lena Mertz in Selby, South Dakota. His grandparents were Norwegian immigrants and his mother was of Russian and German descent. His early years as a farm boy in Selby with his brother Harvey was an ideal life until the Great Depression and crop failure forced the Strand family to move in 1936. In search of work, they arrived in Idaho Falls and purchased a home on 10th Street. Lena passed away in 1943 when Dean was 14. The boys and their father worked several jobs and raised a “Victory Garden,” delivering vegetables to steady customers. Soon after graduating from Idaho Falls High in 1948, he met and dated Joanne Remsburg. After he joined the Air Force, they married in 1952 and moved to Topeka, Kansas, where their first child was born. After an honorable discharge, they moved back to Idaho Falls and raised three more children. Following a distinguished 32-year career with Argonne National Laboratory West as Assistant Division Director of Budgets and Administration, he retired in 1991. He was known at work as the “bean counter” and highly respected by the many life long friends he made there. He loved big band swing music and relished any opportunity to show off his energetic dancing skills. Being a master card shark, one of his favorite past-times was playing cards and “aggravation” with friends and family on weekend nights, in which there was never a dull moment. He enjoyed golfing and was known for his “lady-like pokes” straight down the fairway. But he was probably most famous for his backyard barbequed chicken recipe, which he perfected to an art. Dean was a kind, modest man and an eternal optimist. He always paid his bills on time and was meticulously tidy. He served as a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church, where he also worked with Joanne on the Christmas Basket charity. Throughout his life, he provided end of life care to many. In 1994 Joanne passed away. He remarried in 1998, to Diana Mooney and they moved to Surprise, Arizona, a few years later where he spent the remainder of his golden years enjoying the easy-going lifestyle at the Happy Trails retirement resort. He is survived by his wife, Diana, and his children: S. Brent Strand (Allason Smith), Dena (R. Brent) Rowe, Terri (Terry) Roberts, Brad Strand, seven grandchildren, and siblings Harvey (Shirley) Strand, Lisa Bennett, and Stephanie Reed. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at the Idaho Falls First Presbyterian Church, 325 Elm Street, with Reverend Dr. Dennis Falasco conducting. The family will visit with friends Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Veterans Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and the Idaho Honor Guard. Burial will be private; date undetermined. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Presbyterian Christmas Basket fund. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: John Drouin JCD@CABLEONE.NET Sorry to hear about Dean. He hired me at ANL 04/22/68. He got me on to a great job and a good place to work. 31 years later they made me an offer I could not refuse. Rest in peace, he was a good man. John Drouin (16502 ANL payroll #) Bobi and Jim Morrow bobi638@cableone.net To Deena, Terry and Brad, We were so sorry to hear about your dad's passing. He was a dear friend to us and a wonderful neighbor for years. I think back about all the fun times we had sitting on his or our deck and having fun conversations. I always enjoyed the summer when he'd play his music and let it flow out into our yards. I'd always yell over for him to turn it up - and he would comply enjoying the fact that we enjoyed it also. I'm sure you all will miss him a lot. I am sorry to say we will not be able to attend the service. We are leaving town early tomorrow and will be gone until the night of October 4th. We feel SO bad about missing it by one day. Please know that we will be there in spirit and that we send our love and prayers to all three of you. Bobi and Jim Jerry and Chris Ward We both worked with Dean at Argonne for many years. In fact, Dean recruited Jerry from Oregon Institute of Technology in 1967 and Chris worked as his secretary at ZPPR in the early 1970s. He was kind, funny, supportive, easy to work with, and always spoke lovingly of his family. We will miss him. Jerry and Chris Ward Nancy Jones So sorry to hear of Dean's passing. What a wonderful man he was! We will pray that your family is surrounded by God's love and peace at this difficult time. Love in Christ, Garth & Nancy Jones Michael Lineberry mjl@isu.edu To the Strand Family: The entire Argonne family is indebted to Dean Strand. He worked hard and set an example for all of us. There was a quiet, rather low-key competence to Dean, but you could always be assured that he was looking out for the organization and most especially for all the people who worked within the organization. In 1972 I joined ZPPR, and like he did so many others, Dean patiently mentored me, not just initially, but throughout our many years together at Argonne. I made my mistakes, but not as many as I would have were it not for Dean, and I could have made fewer had I listened to him more. Dean was a great man to work with. He knew how to get things DONE, and that's a quality sorely missed in the national labs today. As appreciation for Dean's skills increased over time, he rose to positions of greater and greater administrative responsibility, until he was the principal administrative officer for the entire ANL-W site. Argonne was the richer for it. In Dean Strand, we honor the memory of a fine man, as decent a man as I've met in my life. My sincere condolences are extended to the Strand family. Marty Bauchman boxy_5@msn.com Dena, My condolences for the loss of your father. Jeff & Pam Flora jflora2@cableone.net It is with great sadness I hear your father has passed away. He was a great individual and the friendship he and your mom had with my parents will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. They are all together now playing cards and having fun. Doug & Cris Our thoughts and prayers are with you Brent and Allison, and our hearts go out to you during this difficult time. Stephanie Strand Reed stephaniesr_98@yahoo.com I will miss you brother of mine. My thoughts and prayers are with you Brent, Dena, Teri and Brad. Love you, Aunt Stephanie