David Oscar Strand, age 93 of Silverton, Oregon passed away peacefully on October 8th, 2025.
He was born in Lethbridge Alberta Canada in Galt Hospital, which is now a museum. His parents were Oscar Strand and Doris Strand (Birch). His father homesteaded a wheat and livestock farm in Canada,
The family, Oscar, Doris, David, Bessie, Walter and Carol immigrated to the United States in 1944 to Silverton. David attended Eugene Field grade school and then Silverton High School where he graduated in 1950. After that, went to Lutheran Bible School in Seattle, Washington and graduated in 1952.
David started Oregon State University in 1953 until Uncle Sam called. He took basic training in San Luis Obispo, California. Then he transferred to Alaska with Signal Corp installing "Dew line", which was early radar warning from the Russians. After that he transferred to Fort Hauchuca Arizona as a supply sergeant. He was discharged May, 1955.
He met Darlene Duncan who worked in the kitchen at Lutheran Bible School who was also a student. Darlene also worked as a parish worker in Burlington, Washington.
There were married in 1955 at the church where she worked. They moved to the family farm in Silverton, Oregon where they raised their 2 daughters, Kaarin and Susie.
He farmed in the summer and also partnered with fellow Norwegian Clarence Leichtney (not sure of the spelling) splitting cedar posts above Detroit, Oregon. He was also the sexton at Immanuel Church cemetery.
Later he became the area agent for the Oregonian newspaper between Molalla, Woodburn, Silverton, and Salem. While with the Oregonian, he won many incentive trips that he and Darlene went on. They went to Thailand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, Denmark, Panama Canal, and Hawaii. In between, he spent 3 months in Norway covering all points of interest, visiting relatives, accompanied by nephew, Dan Strand, and good friend Bruce Meland.

He later took interest in wood carving, especially wooden shoes. He spent 20 years at Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Monitor, Oregon with the Iverson family. He was invited to participate and demonstrate his wooden shoe carving at festivals in Oregon, California, and Washington. He was also interviewed on television every season he was at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.
He took the family to Holland to see wooden shoes made by hand. They also traveled to Norway twice.
David was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and was a member of the Sons of Norway Thor lodge in Salem, Oregon for many years. David loved his lefse, pickled herring and lutefisk!
Following his passion for all things Norwegian he started to create a Norwegian farm. He bought a stabbur (which is a Norwegian storage house). He also bought 2 Norwegian Fjord horses.

He joined the Silverton Arts association and was a board member and president for 2.5 years. Spent 20 years attending as a vendor the Norwegian Fall Festival (Hostfest) in Minot North Dakota.

He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Silverton, Oregon since 1944. While there, he served as a Deacon and on different boards.
He also attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Angel, Oregon and also the Marquam United Methodist Church in Marquam, Oregon.
The family would like to thank Legacy Hospice, the wonderful staff who so lovingly cared for him at the Mt. Angel Towers, and Keizer Nursing and.Rehabilitation for caring for him these past years.
His daughters loved him so much and will miss him tremendously. Tak for Liv~ See you in heaven Dad.
If you would like to donate in David's name, he supported Luther House Campus Ministries in Corvallis, Oregon at Oregon State University, Oregon Public Broadcasting, or the Oregon Humane Society.