Waldon Lee Strom was born June 29, 1926 in Brandon, Colorado to Victor and Anna (Nelson) Strom. He was the 10th of 11 children. Waldon’s parents had a boy and girl who died as babies in 1911. They went on to have three more girls and a boy who died in an influenza outbreak in 1920. The remaining five boys (John, Everett, Loren (Joe), Waldon and Victor) were the family that Waldon knew. The family left Colorado during the Dust Bowl in the late 1920’s and settled near Pequot Lakes, MN. When Waldon was four years old, his mother died. He grew up in the foster family of Severin and Ora Rendahl and their Daughter, Twyla (Doty) in Pequot Lakes, MN.
In November 1944, Waldon joined the Army. He stayed in the Army until January, 1954. During his time in the Army, he traveled on a troop ship to Japan near the end of World War II. He credits Uncle Harry (President Harry Truman) with saving his life. From Japan, he traveled to the Philippines, Germany and ended his service in the Korean War.
After his Army service, Waldon moved to Minneapolis and worked a variety of labor jobs. In 1956, he was working as a farm hand for Fritz’s Farm in Newport when he met Orma Luchsinger, who was also working at the farm. Waldon and Orma fell in love and married on May 25, 1957 at Salem Lutheran Church in Woodbury. Between 1958 and 1969 Waldon and Orma had six children.
Waldon worked at car repair jobs, and as a plastics fabricator at Plastics, Incorporated and Allied Plastics. He retired in 1991. He was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church for 35 years as the Building Fund Treasurer, Cemetery Planner, Church Counsel and Usher. He liked to garden, tinker with cars and various inventions, ride his bicycle, take walks and play with his kids and grandkids until Alzheimer’s disease took his abilities away.
Waldon died peacefully on November 3, 2018 surrounded by his family. Waldon is preceded in death by his parents, step-parents, 10 siblings, 1 step-sister and a son (Richard). Waldon is survived by his wife of 61 years, Orma. Children Norman, Allen (JoAnn), Robert (Jolene), Barbara and David. Waldon has seven Grandchildren and three (almost four) Great-Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews and Friends.
