Helen Strand

Helen Strand, 72, of Bismarck, left this earth unexpectedly on Monday, July 31, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, August 3, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 106 Osage Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Pam Power officiating. Burial will be held at Finnish Lutheran Cemetery, Kintyre, ND. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Helen was born October 17, 1944, in Braddock, ND, to August and Irene (Schwab) Holsti. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1962. Helen received her Associate Degree from Bismarck Junior College in May of 1964. Helen met the love of her life, Roger Strand, in 1964, and they were married March 6, 1965. Not only were they husband and wife, they were best friends. Helen had numerous jobs until they purchased Bens Electric in 1985. They worked side by side in the family company, growing the business to eventually include all of their sons, Perry, Kelly and Shawn. With the passing of Roger in May of 1994, Helen’s hard work and devotion expanded Bens Electric to the well-known and respected business it is today. Helen’s last day of work with her boys was last Friday and she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Helen was a kind hearted and generous person. She was loved and appreciated by everyone who crossed per path. Family was her number one priority. She loved her boys and grandkids more than anything. Helen made holidays special for her grandkids, every Easter, dyeing the Easter Eggs and at Christmas frosting the sugar cookies, with many creations. Her favorite past times were baking, embroidery, puzzles, gardening, her flowers, and making jean quilts. Numerous fortunate people have a hand-made Helen Strand quilt. Everyone counted on her to make her potato salad and her famous chip dip for all kinds of occasions. Another of Helen’s passions was racing, whether it be BMX bike races, dirt track, or Nascar. She was not only a spectator, but a valuable asset and volunteer to our local racing community. Of course #99 was her favorite, and she will now be cheering him on from above. Helen was a great lady, the best mom, and an amazing friend. Helen is survived by her sons and their families; Perry and Carter; Kelly, Cathy, Ryan and Laura; Shawn and Krystal and special grand dogs and buddies Axil and Sadie; mother Irene Kelsch; sister Kathy and Terry Morton; brother Ken Holsti; sister-in-law Carol Holsti; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Monte and Bev Strand; nephews Scott Becknell, Corey Strand, Keith Strand; nieces Toni Radomski, Karlynn Halden. Helen was preceded in death by her dear sweet husband Roger; father, August Holsti; brother, Lester Holsti; niece, Traci Holsti-Engelhorn ; brother-in-law, Dennis Strand; in-laws, Dorothy Mae and Ted Strand.