Bonnie Strand

Bonnie Strand, age 89, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Thursday, September 5th, at McIntosh Senior Living in McIntosh, MN. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 16th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Pam Thorson officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Erskine. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Sunday, September 15th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Erskine. Family will also greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Monday (16th) at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Bonnie was born in Mentor, MN to parents Andy and Lydia (Larson) Anderson. She was the 10th of 11 children, 6 brothers and 4 sisters. She was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor. She graduated from Mentor High School in 1953. On November 14, 1953 she married Stanley Strand and together they raised 5 children in Mentor, then moved to Erskine in 1954. Mom was a very good homemaker, seamstress, artistic painter and crafter. She was very active in the church, such as teaching, bible studies, ladies aid and quilting. She worked hard at helping to support our family by selling Tupperware, then Avon and working in the laundry at Pioneer Home and several odd jobs such as road construction one summer and helping pick potatoes in the fall. She also canned and froze vegetables, fruits and meat for the winter months. At age 51, she went back to school and earned an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting & Design and immediately went to work for CC&I Engineering in Perham, MN. She retired at age 70 and soon after was Grandma at the Win-E-Mac School for several years.

Bonnie is survived by her daughters Renee (Ron) Howe of Erskine, MN, Jacalyn (Jeff) Hendrickson of Bismarck, ND, Jill (Jeff) Sartori of Crofton, MD, Rebecca (Brian) Anderson of Cambridge, MN; grandchildren Erin (Brent) Heemstra, Tom Wild, Brittany (Daniel) Fish, Leslie (James) Goldade, Michael Sartori, Andrea Sartori, Brady Anderson, Alexis Anderson, and Jeffrey Anderson; great grandchildren Kaycee, Allison, Anthony, Evan, Oliver, Lily, Arthur, and Nora; brother Marcilyn (Nody) Anderson of Two Harbors, MN and sister Nelda Carinder (Jim Farden) of Firestone, CO; also several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 5 brothers, 3 sisters, her son Jerome Strand, her granddaughter Tracy Wild, as well as several members of her extended family.