Richard J. Strege
November 11, 1935 ~ March 24, 2024
Richard’s service will be livestreamed below starting at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 28, 2024
Richard John Strege was born November 11, 1935, on a farm near Lidgerwood, North Dakota, to Otto and Myrtle (Solberg) Strege. Later the family moved to a farm southwest of Wyndmere, North Dakota. Richard attended grade school in rural Wyndmere where he walked to and from school uphill both ways. He graduated from Wyndmere High School in 1954. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country from 1955-1957.
Richard was united in marriage to Marlys Hegseth on December 27, 1961. He worked for Schmit House Moving Company in Wyndmere prior to starting a long career with T.F. Powers Construction Company in Fargo, North Dakota, where he worked for 37 years. As job superintendent for Powers, one of his favorite projects was overseeing construction of the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, Minnesota. After retiring in 2000, Richard kept busy working part-time for Home Heating and then for JDP Electric where he had a very special friend, Joel. Richard also enjoyed checking out garage sales on Friday mornings in search of nothing particular except maybe a chance to haggle for a good bargain. At some point, for whatever reason, Richard started collecting vintage ash trays, and he loved scouring the Friday sales to see how many he could find. In the end, his collection totaled about 1200, of which very few were duplicates.
Richard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marlys, of Fargo, North Dakota; children, Jo (Gerard) Gourde of Fargo and Bob (Nancy) Strege of Roseville, Minnesota; his grandchildren, Emilee Gourde (fiancé Craig Cavett) of Fargo, Mason Gourde of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Erin Strege of Roseville; his sister, Emelia Johnson of Minnetonka, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Mildred Strege of Lidgerwood, North Dakota, Ann Strege of Wyndmere, North Dakota, and Cindy Strege of Fargo; and brother-in-law Clay (Judy) Hegseth of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Olaf and Gladys Hegseth; brothers, Luverne, Howard, Elmer, James, Claude, Orvis, Joseph, Steven, and Merlin; sisters, Inez, Leonora, and Lynette; brother-in-law, Harold Malzahn; and sisters-in-law, JoAnn Strege and Gina Malzahn.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.
Services
Visitation - Thursday: March 28, 2024 9:00 am - 10:00 am
First Lutheran Church, Fargo
619 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
https://www.flcfargo.org/
7012357389
Funeral Service - Thursday: March 28, 2024 10:00 am
First Lutheran Church, Fargo
619 Broadway N
Fargo, ND 58102
https://www.flcfargo.org/
7012357389
Burial:
Fargo National Cemetery
8709 40th Avenue North, Co Rd 20
Harwood, North Dakota 58042
(701) 451-4650
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/fargo.asp
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I am so sorry for your loss, and for ours. He will be missed.
The memories…the lake, card nights, snoose, the garage sales, the pranks – Woolite, the yard statue, that laugh and his eye twinkle, the work ethic and travel, his perpetually bruised nails, and so much more.
I remember he and my dad working on a deck at a house of mine, and my dad requiring heavy metal braces to hold the stairs on and Dick saying that you could pull the deck over, but the stairs would still be attached 🙂 with the sly grin.
I am glad he won’t be needing those socks any longer. Love you guys.
Michelle (Strege) & Glenn Suedel
Oh my here on earth, we have lost a wonderful man, but heaven has gained a beautiful angel
My memories go back to when I was a young, our families would get together us kids would play and of course we would hear the adults upstairs having coffee and talking about important adult things. My father would always tell us girls. If you need something done, you ask the expert, Richard! I am grateful that my parents are in heaven to welcome him and all those from the old neighborhood. Huge hugs to Marlys, Jo, Bobby.
Marlys & families;
sympathies from friends; Bernie, George, Natalie & Deidra Lies. You’re in our prayers, we know you’ll miss him but he’s in Heaven now, our final home. God was waiting for him with open arms… 🙌 …he is @ peace now 🙏
Take Care & Bless you all through this Holy week of Easter ,🫶
So sorry to hear about Richard
You guys were very good friends to Eunice
Always enjoyed visiting with you guys on Sundays after Church at your favorite restaurant
Prayers are with you and your family
Karen Riegel