Raymond Stromstad, age 93, died peacefully on his farm on September 30, 2023.
Raymond was born on June 30, 1930 in Crookston, Minnesota. He was the son of Theodore and Helen Stromstad. Raymond grew up on a farm in rural Beltrami, Scandia Township. He attended grade school at White Dove country school and later attended the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, where he met his future bride and devoted partner, Marvlyn Vesledahl, whom he married on July 15, 1950. Through all of life’s ups and downs, they enjoyed seventy-three beautiful years of life together.
The couple built their home on a farm near Beltrami, MN, where they raised their family of three boys and three girls who all helped out on the farm through the years. Raymond’s steadfast dedication to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, saw each day start with devotions before the workday began. He listened to his Heavenly Father for direction in life and imparted that faith to his children. Over the years he was busy managing the dairy cattle operation, then the beef cattle feedlot, along with working the fields. There was always equipment in the shop: cars, trucks, snowmobiles, and motorcycles that demanded his attention. After the cattle operation and children were grown, he volunteered his time at church, and was a part of the founding members of Resurrection Free and was a member of the Gideons. He wasn’t one to sit still for long, but he loved a good midday cat nap. Raymond enjoyed life and had a great sense of humor. He was always making jokes and witty observations. If you did catch him sitting down, there’s a good chance he had made a bucket of buttered popcorn and had a Dr Pepper nearby watching the Minnesota Twins, the Timberwolves or the Vikings.
Resurrection Free Lutheran Church of Beltrami – where Marvlyn still attends – saw the couple in regular attendance with Raymond not only having served as a deacon, but also as the custodian for ten years.
Raymond and Marvlyn are the parents of six children, Susan (who preceded him in death), Cindy (Mark) Johnson of Cedar, MN, Ron (Tina) Stromstad of Severence, CO, Todd (Darlene) Stromstad of Pasco, WA, Tim (Dena) Stromstad of Atenas, Costa Rica, and Lisa (TJ) Shockley of Lemmon, SD. They are blessed with twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers and their wives, Melvin and Ruth, John and Olga, and Walter and Charlene; and sisters and their husbands, Dora (Alvin Opdahl), Edna, and Clara (Calmer Johnson).
Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Resurrection Free Lutheran Church, Beltrami, MN, with Rev. Joel Kangas officiating.
Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 13, 2023 at Resurrection Free Lutheran Church, Beltrami, MN, with a family service to follow. There will also be visitation one hour before the funeral on October 14, 2023 at the church.
Interment: Scandia Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Beltrami, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
