Ron Strand
Ron C. Strand of Fargo, ND, died in his home on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at the age of 68.
Ron was born on January 4, 1950 in Devils Lake, ND to Anne (Lawlor) and Gerald Strand. He matriculated St. Joseph’s Elementary and St. Mary’s High School in Devils lake, graduating in 1968. He later graduated from UND in 1973 with degrees in political science and history. In 1977 he married Laila Maatta in Brocket, ND.
Laila and Ron began their family in Devils Lake. In 1980, Brendan was born followed by Jordan in 1983, and Meghan in 1986. Ron was Devils Lake’s first Building Inspector until 1987, when Ron began as Building Inspections Administrator in Fargo. He remained in that position for nearly thirty years before his retirement in 2016. During his time in Building Inspections, he was very involved in building code development. He was passionate about building codes and belonged to and presided over several building code organizations.
Over the years, Ron enjoyed many pastimes. When his sons were still living at home, they would play basketball on the driveway. After his sons moved out, they would go camping each summer. He also enjoyed going to the movies with his daughter and that one time that they went fly fishing and she caught the only tree on the lake. Ron loved playing darts, golfing, and having a beer with his friends and coworkers on Tuesday nights. Ron appreciated the warm summers, his beloved deck, and often sported a deep tan from spending time outside.
He enjoyed telling stories and jokes. His expertise was in traditional “dad jokes.” He would love to be remembered as hilarious.
He is survived by his wife, Laila, and three children, Brendan Strand, Jordan Strand, and Meghan Strand (Matthew Williams). He is also survived by his grandpuppies and grandkitties. He is preceded in death by his parents and many aunts and uncles.
His visitation and memorial service will be held at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center, 123 10th St S, Fargo, ND 58103, at 9 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
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Lila and kids, I’m so sorry for your lose. The Stands have been wonderful neighbors for many years. Im going to miss his smiling face and awful jokes!!!!!
Love to all, Ann
Ron was one of the most intelligent, kind and compassionate man I have ever know. I will miss him as well as many others as well. Shirley and I pray God blesses Ron’s family with strength and love in this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you
Steve and Shirley
So sorry for your and your families loss, Leila, Ron will be greatly missed, I’m glad that I got to know him and you! You’re all in my thoughts and prayers in this difficult time!
~Melissa (from the Villa)
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ron’s family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I feel truly blessed to have gotten to know Ron. He was a wonderful man.
Ron was a giant among code officials in the Upper Midwest, although he’d probably shy away from that description. He was one of those “most essential people” in the building and safety code development world long before I started working for the International Code Council in 2011. His colleagues in the Upper Midwest are just finding out about his death and the reaction is universally one of sadness and great loss. It seems that every state produces one person who, in the realm of ICC and its 64,000 members, is considered a great code official. Ron Strand was that great code official among his colleagues and those who knew him through his work. More than that, he was a tireless mentor to the people he worked with in Fargo. My deepest sympathies to his friends, colleagues and family.
My thoughts and prayers are with Ron’s family during this difficult time. Ron was a joy to be around, and I’m thankful for getting to know him during his time at Villa. I will be thinking of all of you!!
Laila and family. I am sorry for your loss. I wish I had a smart aleck joke to share in Ron’s honor. I am very glad to have known you, you are in my thoughts.
Condolences to the family. Rod brought many many smiles to my face with his great humor over the years. I am really going to miss him. Mike Rinke
My deepest condolences to the Strand family and friends. May all of your good memories be greater than your sadness during this difficult time. (Isaiah 25:8)
I am so sad to hear of Ron’s passing. My thoughts and prayers will be with Ron’s family.
I knew Ron for 30 plus years, he was a great mentor to me in my early days of code inspection. He was a wonderful person and will truly be missed.
Gad Bless
So sad to hear about Ron’s passing. My thoughts and prayers to the family. Ron was truly a great guy and will be missed by all.
My prayers and thoughts go out to Ron’s family. He was a leader, mentor, and friend to all of us in the NDBOA. He will be missed.
Laila,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Kathy Larson
So sorry to hear this sad news. Prayers to the family. He was one of the good guys…remember him from darts. He will be missed and remembered by many.
So very sorry to hear about the passing of Ron. Going to miss his “bear hugs”, visits, smiles, & jokes @ the yearly dart tournament. He’ll be missed. Hugs, Thoughts, & Prayers to U all. May God hold U in the Palm of his hands during this difficult time
When I served on the Planning Commission, Ron Strand was so helpful to a newby to the environment and always had a fun laugh. Too young and too much information gone with his passing.
Though the tears with sadness never cease, my prayer is that the tears with laughter flow as you remember the happy times shared. God’s blessings of memories so we might have roses in December.
We are very sorry for your loss. Ron was a good man his family should be proud of. Having worked with him for 30-years I knew him to be honest, fair, knowledgeable, and true to his word. He also enjoyed life to the fullest and knew how to have fun. His outgoing good nature will be missed by all. Celebrate his life with happy memories. Heartfelt sympathy to you all.
To Ron’s family… I had the privilege of working with Ron on many projects over the years through the Fargo Park District. I always found Ron to be very knowledgeable, kind and compassionate about his job. He was always open to other ideas — truly was a very good public servant for our community. Ron, your smile and wit will be missed but long remembered! You were truly a good work friend. God bless you Ron, Rest in peace my friend …Roger G. Gress
Ron meant so much to many people including myself. He was at times a father figure, he was my mentor and my friend. He is and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Meghan, as someone who has seen the screenshots of your family text messages, I WILL remember your dad as hilarious! Hugs. -Morgie
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family, I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ron.
He was such a wonderful guy with a great personality he will truly be missed.
So sorry to hear of your families loss. Will miss seeing Ron sitting on his deck enjoying the sunshine. God Bless
So sorry for your loss…He will definitely be missed.
Laila I am sorry for your loss. I am glad I got to know Ron. He as a very caring and friendly person. I enjoyed to talk to him. My thoughts and prayers are for you and your family. Rest In Peace Ron.
Laila- I was so sad to hear of Ron’s passing but truly grateful to know him. He was such a great man! Many great stories and jokes. The day was always better when Ron was around. My sympathy to you and your family.
-Ashley from Villa
Did Fargo a great service and very helpful to the public Thank you for sharing Ron with us…
Was great knowing and working with you through the NFPA BCDC. You may be gone but not forgotten,
I will always say Ron was the best boss ever, mentor and friend. We will all miss his humor and company. Millie’s and my thoughts and prayers for your family.
To the Strand Family:
I knew Ron during his college days at UND. He was a member in good standing with a group of people who populated a home known as the “Nest”. I’m very sad to hear of Ron’s passing. Viewing the very nicely done video reminded me of those great times; and made me wish I had lived closer to North Dakota over the past decades. Currently, I’m in Mesa, AZ. Ron and my brother Frank Kennedy were friends and hunting buddies over the past years.
So very sorry to learn of Ron’s passing. My prayers and thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you all and pray for peace, healing and days full of so many memories.
Our deepest sympathies to Ron’s family. Ron and I are cousins and it has been years since we last saw each other. Laila, Brendan, Jordan, and Meghan, you are all in our thoughts and prayers. “God gave us memories so that we would have roses in December.” May the memories of Ron live with you forever and bring smiles to your hearts and minds.
I found out about Ron passing. I knew Ron when I lived in Devils Lake in the early 70’s. My deepest sympathy for the family. God bless his memory.