Elmer Ordin Strand passed away peacefully in the loving embrace of his family on March 12, 2024 in Mora, MN aged 97 years 11 months.  Elmer was born April 15, 1926 on a farm near Selz, North Dakota to Rasmus and Emma Strand.

Being the second youngest child of five with no sisters, Elmer often helped his mother with kitchen and housework duties. He had fond memories of this time with her. When he got older, he went to work in the barn and fields. He was a curious child (a trait he exhibited until his last days) and studied the habits of animals, both wild and domestic. He fondly remembered how he could get along with "Frank," the orneriest horse in the stable, when others couldn't.

His ability to study and understand the world and its inhabitants served him well in WW-II where he was a logistics engineer stationed in Germany. He was responsible for provisioning troops with food and drink.  He told many stories of how, by learning what was important to people and respecting their differences, he was able to swing some good deals for his kitchen and make friends across cultural and national boundaries at the same time.

After the war, he tried farming for a while, but he soon turned toward broader horizons and studied accounting. After a brief stint with the railroad, he began working as an accountant at an automobile dealership in Lewistown, MT.

On April 16, 1955 he was married to Ruth Evelyn Hall of Lewistown. While in Lewistown, he came to own and operate Imperial Motors, the local Chrysler dealership. In Lewistown, two children were born to Elmer and Ruth: daughter Karen and son Paul.  He was very active in the community and could often be found on the golf course in his free time.

Elmer sold the Chrysler dealership in 1969.  He brought his family back to Harvey, ND where he farmed and sold insurance and annuities through AAL. He was part owner of another car dealership, had a small herd of Shorthorn cattle, served as county commissioner, and had other community interests as well.  He retired in 1986.  In 1999, Elmer and Ruth moved to Truth or Consequences, NM where they lived until moving to Mora, MN in 2013.  Throughout his life, Elmer was always interested in the 'why' of everything; it was his learning style and the way he understood people and the world around him.

Elmer is preceded in death by his parents and his brothers; Walter, Edwin, William, and Norman.  Elmer is survived by his wife, Ruth (Hall); children Karen Faust (Scott TenNapel) and Paul; and grandchildren Jared Faust (Jessica), Tyler Faust, Zachary Faust (Charlotte Herrmann), and Rachel Strand.

Elmer will be forever loved and remembered for his vigorous curiosity, strong work ethic, his tendency to have an opinion, his ability to see the good in people, his commitment to family, and his firm belief that we are all good and worthy humans, regardless of our differences.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date at the Sunnyside Cemetery of Harvey.