Lloyd C. Strong

Lloyd C. Strong, 86, of Mitchell, NE passed away from this life to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 20th at the Residency Health Care Center in Scottsbluff, NE. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, Nov. 28th, 2011 at the Federated Church in Mitchell, NE with Pastor Chuck Richardson officiating. Masonic services will be conducted by Mitchell Masonic Lodge No. 263 A.F. and A.M. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the US Navy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Panhandle Shrine Club, Mitchell Kiwanis, or the Federated Church of Mitchell Scholarship Fund. Friends and family may call from 1:00PM to 6:00PM, Sunday, Nov. 27th, at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff, NE. Lloyd Clifford Strong was born on Oct. 8th, 1925 in Trumbull NE. He was the son of William Frank and Essie (Johnson) Strong. The family moved to the North Platte Valley when he was 3 years old where they farmed on a homestead. He later moved to Mitchell in 1940. He attended Sunflower School and later graduated from Mitchell High School in 1943. He started working at the Mitchell Post Office in 1945. He served as a Rural Carrier on Route 1 in Mitchell for 30 years and was appointed as Postmaster until his retirement in 1983. Lloyd met Elsie Lind at the Post Office in 1945 and they were married on July 7th 1946. Two children Dennison and Deborah were born to this marriage. Lloyd and Elsie celebrated their 65th anniversary in July 2011. He served in the US Navy from 1943-1945 on the APA 218 - USS Noble in the South Pacific as a Radioman 2nd Class during WWII. He joined his brother, Lawrence, in the Strong Brothers partnership from 1958 to 1983 and he loved the family farm of 80 acres in rural Mitchell where the planting of the crops and harvest time were so special to Lloyd. Lloyd went back to school and received his Real Estate License in 1984. He went to work for Hickman-Williams Agency in Mitchell as a Real Estate Broker and continued his work until he became ill. Lloyd truly loved giving of himself throughout his career, within his community and his church, serving at all levels and in many positions. Over the years, he served in the Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department, Mitchell City Council from 1972-1977, and the Board of Education from 1958-1964. He was a long-standing member of the Elks in Scottsbluff, American Legion, Mitchell Masonic Lodge, Mitchell Kiwanis and Panhandle Shrine Club, all of which he served in for over 50 years. He enjoyed life to the fullest and over the years he enjoyed time spent hunting, fishing, boating, outdoor activities, attending sports activities with family members and friends, community functions of all kinds, reading, and he was a loyal Husker and Bronco fan throughout the years. He treasured the time he had with his wife and family and he had a servant's heart for serving his Lord, his church and his community. Lloyd loved God foremost and his wife, family and friends meant the world to him. He was a member and a former Elder of the Federated Church, serving wherever he was needed. Lloyd remained strong and faithful in his walk throughout his illness. He remained positive to the end of his earthly life and he finished the race well! He was truly an inspiration to everyone, a devoted husband and friend, a Godly man, hardworking, patriotic, of high moral character, humble, trustworthy, loyal and respected, admired and loved by all who knew him. We give thanks to God for all the memories and the years spent with this amazing man who was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend! Lloyd will be deeply missed by all. We celebrate and honor his life now and always. Lloyd is survived by his beloved wife, Elsie, his son and daughter-in-law, Dennison and Charlotte of Colorado Springs, CO, his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Harry Gardner of Gering, NE, his sister and brother-in-law, Lela and Charles Evans of Scottsbluff, NE, six grandsons, Geoff (Alison) Strong of New York, NY, Joel Strong of Portland, OR, Jordan Strong of Brooklyn, NY, Jeremiah (Alesha) Gardner of Mitchell, NE, Garrett (Keisa) Gardner currently stationed in the AF in Stuttgart, Germany and Jason Gardner of Denver, CO, six great-grandchildren, Alexander and Henry Strong, Dylan and Drey Gardner and Kloee and Max Gardner, three nieces, four nephews, and numerous relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Essie, brother Lawrence, and infant sister Vernice.