MILDRED D. STRAND

Mildred Delores Strand was born on July 9, 1927, in Pipestone, Minnesota to Harold and Josephine Goeppel Hansen. She grew up in Pipestone and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1945. Following high school, Mildred attended Teacher Training and taught country school in the Lake Wilson, MN area. On August 31, 1948, she and Desmond “Des” Strand were married at St. Leo’s Church in Pipestone.

Following their marriage, they made their home in Lake Wilson and raised their three daughters. When the girls were school age, Mildred attended Mankato State University and received her BS Degree in Education. In 1966 she began teaching 1st grade in Lake Wilson and retired after 38 years. She liked to joke that she never was able to get past the 1st grade. Des passed away on August 24, 2003. In 2010 Mildred was honored with a plaque on the Murray County Central Wall of Fame. In 2016 Mildred moved to Summerwood Assisted Living of Chanhassen, MN. She was known as Miss Mildred at Summerwood and was very blessed in her new home with so many loving caregivers and new experiences despite her reluctance to leave the home she and Des built in Lake Wilson. However, in true Mildred fashion, she found a way to bloom where she was planted.

Mildred passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Summerwood at the age of 96. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Lake Wilson where she taught religion classes, was active in the CCW and an original member of Group Therapy. Mildred was also active in the Lake Wilson Community Players, Lake Wilson Study Club, Murray County Hospice volunteer and Girl Scout Leader. Mildred enjoyed art projects, painting, reading, music, her flower garden, and coffee time with her friends.

Survivors include her three daughters, Mary Nelson (Allan Stawicki) of Cable, WI, Joan (Jim) Akerlind of Eden Prairie, MN, and Jane (Michael “Andy”) Monson of Crosslake, MN; six grandchildren, Ali (Eric) Joens, Ian (Mandi) Nelson, Zachary Herding, Tyler Akerlind (Danielle Borchard), Haley (Sean) Bruns and Erika Monson; four great-grandchildren, Evan, Garret, Colton Joens, and Reese Nelson; one sister, Virginia “Pat” Demuth of Hills, MN; and seven nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Des; son-in-law, Curt Herding; infant brothers, Kenneth and Robert Hansen; brothers, Harold Jr, and Thomas (Pam) Hansen; parentsin- law, Ole and Julia Strand; in-laws, Eddie Demuth, Una and Harry Erickson, Olive and Wayne Chase, Stanley Strand and nephew, Michael Demuth.

Memorial services will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Lake Wilson, MN on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Peter Schuster officiating with music by Group Therapy. The organist is Sharon Lais. Interment is at Hillside Cemetery in Lake Wilson, MN.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome. com.