Kathleen Strand

Kathy Strand of Fargo, ND, passed away in the early morning hours on October 22, 2014 at Elim Care Center in Fargo, ND at the age of 65, after a courageous battle with cancer.  

Kathleen Marie Lyons was born on November 1, 1948, in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Mark and Muriel (Schoeder) Lyons. She attended and graduated from Finley High School in 1966 and attended one year of business school at Wahpeton North Dakota State College of Science. She married Douglas Strand on August 30, 1969, at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in Finley, ND.  Kathy and Doug raised their four daughters and one son in Cooperstown, ND.  While living in Cooperstown, Kathy was the secretary at Griggs County Central Elementary School for 21 years and a paraprofessional at Griggs County Central High School for three years.  She touched the lives of so many students during those years. After moving to Fargo in 2007, Kathy worked at State Bank & Trust for a little over two years and Mechanical Insulation and Supply for two years. In addition, she did all of the bookkeeping for Doug Strand Trucking. She was a 43 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary, an active parishioner at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cooperstown and an amateur photographer of her family and friends.  Kathy enjoyed spending time with those she loved, taking, organizing and displaying pictures, sewing, playing cards and games, going to movies, and decorating for the Holidays, especially Christmas. She was the biggest cheerleader and proudest supporter of her kids and grandkids, never missing any of their activities. Her pride and joy were her five children and seven grandchildren. 

Kathy is survived by her husband, Doug, of 45 years; five children and seven grandchildren – Kimberly (Mark) Percy of London, England, UK, and their children Madeleine and Dexter; Laura (Dustin) Roberge of West Fargo, ND, and their sons Taylor and Chase; Nicole (Michael) Bangasser of Plymouth, MN, and their daughter Megan; Jennifer (Clayton) Dilly of Fargo, ND, and their daughters Makenna and Harper; and Mark (Nicole) Strand of Erie, PA; her mother, Muriel Lyons of Fargo, ND; one brother Michael (Brenda) Lyons of Denver, CO and one sister Beth (Jeff) McClean of Fargo, ND; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her father, Mark.  

Visitation will be Monday, October 27, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo. Funeral Service and Burial will be Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church in Fargo.  Interment will be at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fargo.

Kathy’s family would like to thank Hospice of the Red River Valley and Elim Care Center for their excellent work and loving care, as well as all the friends who have stopped by to visit, sent cards and shared prayers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Hospice of the Red River Valley, Children’s Cancer Research Fund or the American Cancer Society.