Remembering Connie Strand
Constance “Connie” M. (Vold) Strand, retired head of circulation at the School of Medicine & Health Sciences Library, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at Sanford Health Center in Mayville, N.D. She was 89.
Connie was born on April 14, 1929 in Watertown, S.D. the daughter of John and Bernice (Hogstad) Vold. She had 6 brothers and sisters. She grew up in and attended school in Clark, SD. She later graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead.
She married Delbert Strand, June 7, 1953 in Montpelier N.D. They raised 5 children. They had 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. They lived in numerous towns in North Dakota, due to Del’s employer, The Northern Pacific Railway “bumping” him; she worked as an English teacher and he a depot agent. Those towns include: Jamestown, Carrington, New Rockford, Wilton, Turtle Lake, Starkweather, and Grand Forks, where Del retired due to health issues.
In Grand Forks Connie pursued a new career as a librarian; working for the Grand Forks public schools, city of Grand Forks public libraries, and for the University of North Dakota as the head of circulation at the UND medical library. Connie worked at UND for more than 30 years and retired at the age of 76! Her personal mentoring left life lasting impressions on her students. She loved working with them.
She enjoyed bowling, cards, crossword puzzles, and baking. She participated many church groups and social clubs. She watched a lot a basketball, and loved her Minnesota Twins! If you called her during the baseball season, often her response was, “I can’t talk, the Twins are on”! She was a voracious reader, a devout Christian, who studied the Bible daily. She was a member of Sharon Lutheran Church.
Connie lived at Luther Memorial Home the last 2.5 years of her life. They did an excellent job caring for Connie. She loved living there.
She absolutely loved her great-grandchildren, grandchildren, and children. She loved conversing with them, had to know what they were up to. The little ones adored their “Grandma, Granny C, GG ma Connie Bonnie!”
Connie is survived by her children, Scott (Candace) Strand, Tallahassee, FL, Sheila (Roger) French, Marion IA, David (Delilah) Strand, Fisher MN; siblings, Harold Vold, Hatton, ND, Lois (Doug) Justus, Visalia, CA, Dave (Elaine) Vold, Hatton, ND, Grace (Willard) Wagner, Arlington Heights, IL; grandchildren, Travis and Megan Strand, Jace, Noah, Mandan, ND, Amy (Charles) Getsman, Katie, Ellie, Fisher, MN, Ryan and Jessica French, Des Moines IA, Allison and Doug Lang, Des Moines IA, Alyssa and Kyle Kozel, Lydia, East Grand Forks, MN, Darcy Menendez, Sophia, Sebastian, Tallahassee, FL, Daniel Menendez, Tallahassee, FL.
She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse Del; her brothers, Paul and Joseph Vold; daughters, Julie Beth and Sara Lee Strand.
