Donald Strand age 2

Donald pictured with his mom and dad leaving for the army

From Candy 3/13/10

Grandpa looks pretty young in this photo. Could this be the house and stove that we knew as kids? I was fascinated by it...it had a little door with a mica window.

My dad said that grandpa loved to read. I wonder where he got his books. I know that he got the Swedish language newspaper from Minneapolis. Look at that nose. Did anyone inherit it? Candy

Picture from Candy

Strand family 1919
Front Row: Louis, Ted, Lillian, and Tilda holding Donald

Back Row
Roy, Ellen and Julius

David Julius Strand was born April 15, 1938 in Wilmar, Minnesota to Julius and “Fern” Strand. He grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota with his sister, Susan (now living in Pennsylvania). Dave graduated from high school in 1955 later St. Cloud College and then graduated from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

From 1959 – 1962 he served at Sunrise Baptist Church in Custer, Washington

1962 – 1973 Edgewood Baptist Church in Edmonds, Washington
(from 1969 to 1973) he was the Chaplain for the Edmonds Fire Department

1973 to 1978 Immanuel Baptist Church in Denver Colorado and was appointed in 1976 to be chaplain of the Senate of the General Assembly of the State of Colorado.

In 1978 through the early 80’s Dave served at Bethel Baptist Church in Galesburg, Illinois and from 1986 to 2003 served at Bonnie Brae Baptist Church in Denver where he retired.

Dave served on various Boards throughout his “career” including Chairman of the Christian Education Board of the Columbia Baptist Conference, Chair of the Christian Education Board, Mission Board Chair and helped build Mission Hills Baptist through the extension office all in the Rocky Mountain Region. He also has his hand in a church in Gillette,Wyoming and served on the Minister’s Council and Asian International Ministry while in Colorado.

He is married to Millie Strand.

3 daughters
7 grandchildren
and a Pekinese, Phoebe whom he loved very much.


Obit

Pastor David J. Strand an authentic and gentle servant of GOD passed away April 6 in Denver. He was IN LOVE with his wife, Millie. He loved his 3 daughters, his 7 grandchildren, his sister, friends, congregations and had a special “adopted” grandfather relationship with his young neighbor, Anlan Du. Born in 1938 in rural Minnesota, GOD chose Dave at the age of 20 to use his hardworking farm boy upbringing to plant and cultivate the seeds of God’s kingdom through Jesus Christ. And though his family and friends know that he is “flying on eagles wings”, the world will miss a man like this. A Celebration of Life service will be Thursday, Apr. 9th at 10:00am at the Chapel at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd. Highlands Ranch.


The pictures above are from various times of David's life: Early age, high school graduation (1955), a family visit in Denver (about 1995) and Matthew's last time with his Uncle Dave (2006).

Information from Butch on 3/1/2010:


I found one of Karin Strand's wedding picture. Her husband's last name was Westling. Ellen (Strand Larson) wrote, "Dad's (Loius Strand) sister Karin Strand Westling. Married a year or so, passed away with her first child. Baby passed away a week later. Don't know year".

BTW, Dad said that Westling was a nice guy and kept in touch with Grandpa (Louis Strand). He remarried and had a family.