Edward Strand

Dates

Obituary

Edward Strand, 97, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Friday, October 18, at RiverTree Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7:00 PM at RiverTree Church with a 6:00 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Edward Carl Strand was born August 29, 1927, to Carl and Resada (Heidner) Strand on the family farm southwest of Mitchell, SD. He attended Lisbon 8 school 1-8 grades. Ed then attend MHS for 2 1/2 years, leaving school in his junior year to start working as a meat cutter at Morrells in Sioux Falls.

He later returned to the family farm and started farming with his dad, and later with his brother-in-law Don Stehly.

Ed married Lois Aarnes on August 22, 1950, and they made their home in Loomis while he continued to work with Don and Lois taught at Loomis School.  

In January 1951, he was drafted into the army and attended basic training at Camp McCoy, WI. Lois joined him in Wisconsin after basic training and resided there until he was sent to Germany for a year. Upon his return, he purchased a farmstead from Ed Backlund and started his life long career of farming. He raised Hereford cattle, pigs, and chickens. In 1983, he started Diamond Dairy.

He served on many boards, including the Mitchell Wesleyan Methodist Church board where he was chairman of the building committee for the new church in 1959, the Dakota District of the Wesleyan Church, Prosper Township Board, and Salvation Army. In 1993, he was appointed as a Farmers Union Ambassador to Hungary, he was there to teach Hungarian farmers how to farm. Ed retired from farming after hip surgery in 2015.  

Ed and Lois spent 6 weeks in the winter in Sun City West, AZ every year for several years. In 2011 he and Lois went to Israel  where they were both baptized in the River Jordan by his brother Julius.

He will be missed by his wife, Lois of Mitchell; daughters, Sherry Jo (Bill) Nebelsick of Mitchell and Ramona (Mark) Hirsch of Rapid City; six grandchildren: Chris (Aimee) Nebelsick of Mitchell, Nikki (Anthony) Hobbie of Mitchell, Matthew (Katie) Nebelsick of Lead, Kimberli (Brady) Hastings of Omaha, Bittany Hirsch (Adam Murray) of Denver, and Ryan (Jordan) Hirsch of Rapid City; 15 great-grandchildren: Braedon, Madelyn, Grason, Henley, and Christopher Nebelsick; Haley, Natali, Alexa, and Amara Hobbie; August and Charlie Nebelsick; and Tucker, Harleigh, Briar, and Sadie Hastings;  brother, Julius (Bobbie) Strand of MN; brother-in-law, Don (Deb) Aarnes of CO; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Sadie Strand; son, Barry; brother, Duane Strand;   sisters, Margaret Shonley and Leona (Don) Stehly; nephew, James Stehly; parents-in-law, Severin and Cora Aarnes; sister-in-law, Gladys (Robert) Trosen; and brother-in-law, Richard Aarnes.

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