Donald (Don) Strobel, 84, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2017 at the Prairie Community Hospital in Terry.
Don, the oldest child of John D and Barbara Strobel, was born at his maternal grandparents, Fredrick and Elizabeth (Sackman) Strobel’s Cabin Creek farm on December 28, 1932. This is the story told about his birth: His mother, “Barbs” was doctoring in Glendive. As her due date neared, she went to stay in Glendive as her family feared the possibility of bad weather and roads. There was a family wedding scheduled for Christmas Day and the baby hadn’t come. Barbs went home for the wedding and never made it back to Glendive. The doctor and his nurse boarded a train in Terry, rode it to Marsh where they were met by Fred Strobel and taken to the farm to assist in the delivery.
Don spent his youth at several places in the Cabin Creek area. He attended the Bossert and Strobel rural elementary schools. Don grew up doing what every other farm boy did. He began milking cows at the age of 5; he helped care for the animals (hated cleaning the chicken coop!) and other chores. He belonged to 4-H. He remembered sitting on a hay rake pulled by horses, helping his grandfather. He graduated from Terry High School in 1951. While in high school he boarded at various homes or ‘batched’ with friends or siblings as there was no school bus service to the Cabin Creek area at the time. After graduating he worked on the family farm with his parents.
Don married Marian Kuehn on October 4, 1958. They farmed and ranched on the Fred Strobel place. They raised three daughters there. In 1994 they sold the farm and moved to Terry, and Don continued his love of farming by frequently helping farm-ranch friends for many years.
Don served the community in his quiet way. Some of these entities include Fallon Farmer’s Union Board, ASCS committee, Terry School Board, Grace Lutheran Church trustee, and Cabin Creek volunteer firefighter. Activities he enjoyed were bowling on the Fallon Feedlot team, Cabin Creek neighborhood gatherings, square dancing, playing cards with friends and family, traveling to his grandchildren’s school events, and attending various Terry school sporting events. But his family brought Don his greatest joy. Until the very end, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren continued to bring a twinkle to his sparkling blue eyes. He was a man of great patience and integrity, the foundation of a large and loving family that admired him greatly.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Jack and Barbs Strobel and his brother Dale. Don is survived by Marian, his wife of 59 years, their daughters: Donita (Duane) Malkuch along with their children Amie (Jace) Schillinger and Tyler (Mandy) Malkuch; Tina Colstad and daughters Brielle (Tanner) Oldenburger, Maggie (Trevin) Anderson, and Erika; and Karla (Bruce) Hoffman and children Seth and Ellie Hoffman. Great-grandchildren include Lola, Grady, and Vaida Schillinger, Kane Oldenburger, and Ozzy Malkuch. Don’s siblings are Marvin (Carol) Strobel and Flo (Vern) Fruit and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Terry High School Honor Society Scholarship Fund, or the Prairie Community Hospital.
Ken and Vicki Hess says
Sorry to hear of Don passing. Will always be remembered for being a great guy.
James & Marj Anderson says
So sorry Marion to hear of Don’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Heather Moon says
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. We were so glad to have known him. He was always so friendly, kind and a “real gentleman”. He will be missed.
Del Linda Frost & Barry Rakes says
Dear Marion, Donita, Tina, Carla and Family, truly sorry for the lost of Don, he was a very special guy and always had a smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you, Barry and Del Linda
Linda Koehler says
Dear Marian and family….
Words convey so little when hearts feel so much…. May time and special memories help ease your sorrow and comfort you and yours in the difficult days ahead….
Andrea Miller says
Prayers are with you all during this difficult time
Larry Keltner says
Don was the only guy in the whole world that would trust a teenage cowboy from up the creek to combine the worst wheat crop in decades. The Summer of 1988 didn’t help produce much wheat for anyone that year but Don still needed help. He convinced me to learn how to operate his old round backed John Deere 55 that year. What an adventure; he sure was patient with me after I tried to turn it to quick and all the steering cables came off and I ran it into the fence! Even he commented that a newer hydraulic system might be nice while he was teaching me how to rewind the entire system. (I sure appreciated that newer Massey Ferguson years later: Hydraulic’s and A/C WOW!) Enjoy Don’s memory, I sure will. Regards, LK
Judy Hufford says
Marian & Families: So very heart broken over the loss of Don. He was a very nice gentleman. May God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hand. Jim and Judy Hufford
Cara says
Marian, Donita, Tina, Karla and families,
I am grieving with you the passing of our beloved Don. I am so blessed to have been able to be a part of your lives all these years. So many wonderful memories from Cabin Creek and Terry. My love, thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Delores Cameron says
Our sympathy to your family
Christine Keltner says
So many good memories of this man, he was so fun to visit with. Many a trip to meet the bus would mean a stop at Don and Marions because I was too early!!! We managed to find many different topics to discuss!!!
He was truly a joy!!!
Chris
Norman & Vonnie Shannon says
Marian and family, Sending our deepest sympathy.
Norman & Vonnie
Troy and JoDee Hess says
Thoughts and prayers to you all!
Aileen Kickert says
Marion, Donita, Tina & Karla,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Hold onto the memories, they are so precious. May your faith bring you comfort and peace during this difficult time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Bill, Aileen and Jorja Kickert
Shirley Haidle says
Dear Marion, So sorry to hear of Don’s passing; Duane and I always enjoyed our visits with you and Don when we would vacation in Montana. Prayers of comfort for you at this sad time. Shirley Haidle
Shelley Stiles says
My deepest sympathy to the Strobel family. I hope all the wonderful memories of times spent together with Donald will help ease your pain in this time of sadness. Never forget the promise held out for us in Revelation 21:3-4 where it promises that “pain and death will be no more”. We have a wonderful hope ahead of us that tells us that very soon we will be reunited with our loved ones. (Acts:24:15). Until that time, may the “God of All Comfort” prove to be with your hearts in the coming months. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Delphine Coon says
Dear Marion and family, so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. My sympathy to you all.
Don & Ruth Lekse says
Marian and Family, It has been truly a blessing when you built your home and moved near us. Don & Don enjoyed their visits “across the fence”. You were great neighbors all these years. Our Sympathy to all of you.
Sue Cranford says
Marion, Donita, Tina, and Karla
I so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
I send my love Sue (Kirkpatrick) Cranford
Sally (Blankenship ) Birkelo says
I always remember Don at Cabin Creek brandings of my youth. He was always so kind and personable and always would visit with me. One time at a branding, must have been Thoenys (?) and I was in high school, we were all driving back to the house after branding. My sister and I were riding with Lorin Larsen and our pickup was the final vehicle in the convoy back to the house for dinner, and we had to close each gate after we went through. Don was ahead of us and left beer at each gate! Mind you, that by the time we got to the house we were quite merry and I made sure to avoid ny dad! We have laughed over that a few times over the years…but I never did fess up to Cowboy Bob about our shenanigans!
I am so sorry about Don’s passing and my prayers are with all the family. I cannot get to the service but know that I will be thinking of you.
Sandi Johansen says
So sorry Marion about Don’s passing. You and your family are in our prayers and thoughts.
Conrad and Sandi Johansen
Ruth Goins
Laura Christoffersen says
Tina,
Sorry to read of the death of your father. It is so hard to lose one’s parents…I will think of you in the days to come.
Carly Stickel says
To a very special family… Sending love and prayers your way during this difficult time. ❤️
Jo Newhall and George Kelly says
Saying goodbye is never easy. Carrying a lifetime of shared love to the goodbye makes the departure easier. You have a family that knows how to love well! Don will be missed and remembered with so much of that love.
Brittany Hoversland says
Marion and families,
I will forever be grateful for Don and Marion’s hospitality in my 2 year’s in Terry. I loved Don’s stories about Cabin Creek and his soft smile. Prayers to you all!
Stephen Rein says
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He will be missed by everyone.
Bruce Miller says
Marion and family, I am so very sorry for your loss of Don…what a wonderful gentleman that raised an amazing family…my first real boss, in the late 60s. Working with Don taught me so much, the branding, summer fallowing, and haying and more. Wonderful lifetime memories, never ever forgotten, just like Don… God Bless, I’m sorry to miss you tomorrow, but look forward to our next visit. Thoughts and prayers. Bruce Miller
Rick Miller says
Marion, I’m so sorry about Don, it’s been many years but I still have fond thoughts of the two of you. It would be so nice if we could turn the clock back 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
Tim and Diane says
We send our deepest sympathy to you Marian and family. Don was a very special man and will be missed and remembered with great fondness.
Diana Schmidt says
I will not be able to attend the funeral . Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
SY says
My condolences to the family. May God comfort you at this difficult time, and may the promise of a future resurrection for our love ones who have fallen asleep in death bring you hope. John 5:28,29
Tom and Darlene Hess says
So sorry for your loss. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers
Candy & Bill Loehding says
Our sincere sympathy goes to all of the family! Don leaves behind a wonderful family and lots of treasures memories! Hugs and love to all of you!
Brett Crump says
You are in our prayers. May the God of all grace comfort you all.
Michele Sanders says
Sorry for the loss of your husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.
Lee and Teresa Oldenburger says
We send our deepest sympathy, condolences, and love to the entire family. We pray you will feel the Lord’s unbounding love and comfort during this time. Matthew 5:4
Joan and Roger Grammond says
Donit a and family, our deepest sympathy on the death of you dad. He sounds like a wonderful person. Our prayers are with you.
Trudy Nowell says
Dear Strobel family, I am so sorry to have read of the recent death of your loved one Donald. Please accept my most sincere condolences. I would like to share something that I have personally found to be very comforting. It is found in the Bible at John 5:28,29 and Revelation 21:3-5. These verses tell us that soon Jehovah God through his son Christ Jesus is going to bring about a resurrection of our dear loved ones, as well as do away with all the causes we have for suffering including sickness and death. Knowing this has always comforted me when I’ve lost loved ones and it is my hope that these thoughts will likewise comfort your family also during this most difficult time in your lives. If you would like to read these Scriptures online for free or find more comforting thoughts, please visit jw.org Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss.
Sincerely, Trudy Nowell – Panama City Beach, FL
Ed and Chely Brubaker says
Our deepest sympathy to you Marion and Donita, Karla, Tina and your families. We have lots of good memories of Don to keep in our hearts. You are I our prayers. Ed and Chely Brubaker
Gary and Myrna Ryti says
What an amazing man and what a remarkable life. We were so lucky to have known him.
Loretta says
Sending love to light the way-
Love you!
Wendy Sonnenberg says
He sounds like such an awesome man. I know you will all miss him greatly. Keep treasuring your memories and look forward to seeing him in Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carol Larsen says
Dear Marian and family, Don was a special man in your lives. It is so hard to get through these days. I am thinking of you. Carol Larsen
Lon and Vicki Reukauf says
We were so very saddened to hear that Don passed away. He was such a wonderful man who meant so very much to his family and friends. We are sending prayers for comfort for you all.
Burt, Monique, Kael, and Isis Keltner says
From spending community bingo parties at Don and Marion’s, to brandings, to helping organize his equipment before his farm sale, and so much more, Don was an integral part of Cabin Creek for me (and Prairie County!) – and always will be. I am very thankful to have known him.