Mavis Stromme

Mavis Lenore Stromme passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo, ND.

Mavis was born on May 31, 1929, to Leonard & Maud Johnson of Berthold, ND. She grew up on her family farm along with her older sister Carol. They could not be more opposite in the most loving way with Carol being a tomboy daddy’s girl and Mavis a prim and proper mother’s favorite.

Mavis met the love of her life, Everett Stromme in Minot, ND while attending school at Minot State and they were married on May 21, 1951, recently celebrating 74 years of marriage. They were blessed shortly after with two children, Loni and Shelley.

Mavis moved alongside Everett to countless new homes over the years from Alabama to Wisconsin and all over North Dakota. In recent years Mavis commented on her time as the very first teacher on the Minot Air Force Base and how proud she was to have been trusted with teaching so many kids at one time in 1959.

Everett took great pride in her accomplishments as a teacher as well as being a leader among the other women of the communities in which Mavis lived. While living in these various places, Mavis was always involved in local churches and was the founding member of “Christian Women” while living in Kenmare, ND. She loved to sing at church and had a beautiful singing voice. She was often heard singing or humming good old church hymns.

Mavis and Everett finally settled down in Mesa, AZ where they resided nearly full time starting in the 1990s. While in Arizona, they enjoyed golfing and running around with their large group of friends. (From Organ Stop Pizza to taking in all kinds of musicals or variety shows they were busy all the time.) They spent time traveling back and forth between Arizona, North Dakota and Minnesota as true snowbirds do. They also enjoyed several summers volunteering as visitor guides in historic Medora, ND.

Throughout the years, Mavis enjoyed her 5 grandsons & 14 great-grandchildren. She was always so excited to see the kids and to have them over for a long visit or even a full week get-away with Grandma. When she got a hold of the kids, she always made sure they had one, two or three of her delicious fresh baked cookies on hand or any other treat she could find which was often a Bit-O-Honey from one of the candy dishes in her living room.

Mavis was well known for her excellent cooking. Her dinner parties were well known for wonderful evenings of delicious food with no shortage of food and spectacular desserts, followed by one of her go-to card games like Uno or Skip-Bo which she loved to play with her many friends or patiently teach to the kids.

Mavis was a savvy shopper and was always dressed impeccably. She could really put together an outfit and took care to dress very classy and fun, with just the right amount of accessories. And if any grandkids happened to be with her at the mall, they were sure to get a toy or new outfit. She was always so generous to those around her.

She was quick to hug you and let you know how special you were, make you feel welcomed and always wanted to hear about YOU rather than say anything about her day. And if you ask her about how she was, she turned it right back to you, making you feel like the star of the visit.

“Mav” and Everett were right by each other’s side right up until the end just as they were through their entire lives together. They were an incredible team and so generous with each other. They both told stories that elevated the other and were real examples of showing love through deeds, which served as examples to family and the communities in which they lived.

They were one in a long, loving, beautiful, shared life together.

Mavis was preceded in death by her daughter, Shelley Stumpf.

Mavis is survived by her husband of 74 years, Everett Stromme. Son, Loni Stromme (Nancy) of St. Cloud, MN along with their three sons Ben (Julie) of Big Lake, MN, Jon (Trish) of New Hope, MN and Rob of St. Cloud, MN. Shelley’s two sons Casey (Ruth) of Fargo, ND and Tyler (Ruth) of McKinleyville, CA. 14 great grandchildren and many relatives to whom she stayed in contact with over these many years.