Todd Michael Strem, 63, of Crookston, Minnesota passed away at his home on January 20, 2026.
Todd was born on May 31, 1962 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Polly and Jean Strem; their second boy. The Strem family lived in South Milwaukee for 2 years before returning to Crookston. Todd attended school in Crookston at Franklin, Highland, and Crookston High School, where he joined the Army Reserves at the age of 16. After graduating from Crookston High School with the class of 1980, Todd left Crookston to attend Army Basic Training. Todd served in the Army until 1984 and loved the opportunities he was afforded to travel overseas to destinations such as Germany, Amsterdam, and other European countries.
After serving his country, Todd returned to Crookston and embarked on a new adventure. He and his brother, Jan, bought Old Main in Crookston. They loved to bring in live music to entertain and Old Main became the place to be while they owned it. Around the same time that he and Jan were bringing entertainment to Crookston, Todd started courting Julie Ann Austin. Todd knew Julie was the love and his life, and it was not long before he proposed marriage to her at the Bronze Boot. On July 13, 1985, they were wed and began their lives together. The couple rented their first home and later that year, on December 2, 1985, they welcomed their first child, Cole. A few years later, on October 17, 1988, Tye was born into the family. After the birth of their third child, Mackenzie, on November 18, 1992, Todd and Julie decided it was time to get a bigger house. This led to their purchase of the big house on the hill in 1995. With more room for the family in the bigger house, it was time to welcome Macy to family on December 30, 1998.
Todd worked many jobs in his younger years from Fertile Flow and Dahlgrens, to Bremer Bank, Aflac Insurance. He even started his own insurance company for crop insurance. Later Todd became the sales representative manager at Woodmaster in Red Lake Falls. Later, Todd returned to working in Crookston for Don Boone’s Insurance office. Todd loved selling insurance, especially since Julie started working there as well.
Todd was a social butterfly and enjoyed numerous hobbies. He was often outside enjoying activities such as hunting, riding motorcycles, kayaking, four-wheeling, and gardening. Todd loved watching the Vikings play football as well as cooking, but his ultimate passion was watching his kids play sports! Todd always made time to be involved in his children’s lives. He found ways to connect with them no matter what they were doing. He coached hockey and basketball, taught Sunday School and alpha at Trinity Lutheran Church. Todd was like a second father figure for so many of his kids’ friends and members of his community.
Todd is preceded in death by his parents, Jean and Polly Strem; mother-in-law, Nina; brother, Jan, and his favorite dogs, Kelly and Stella.
Todd is survived by his loving wife, Julie; children, Cole (Bill Tamlyn) Strem, Tye (Alyssa Krenke) Strem, Mackenzie (Ryan Brown) Strem, Macy Strem; brother, Corey Strem; grandchildren, Teaghan, Nova, and Navy.
Todd’s family will celebrate his life with a memorial service on Saturday February 7, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston beginning at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am.
