Debbie J. Stromme

Debra J. “Debbie” Stromme, 54, a loving Mom, dedicated educator and life long resident of Devils Lake died on Friday, April 4, 2008 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake, surrounded by her loving family. The Funeral Service for Debbie will be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. Rev. Rafe Allison, Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. led by Fr. Dale Kinzler. Visitation on Thursday will be at St. Olaf Lutheran Church from 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Memorials may be directed to the Debbie Stromme Devils Lake High School Scholarship and the Lake Region State Scholarship Funds to be established in her memory. Serving as Casket Bearers for Debbie will be Carol and Bob Leevers, Julie and Bill Schuler, Bev and Wayne Westphal, Dawn Bachmeier, Steve Johnson, Polly and Gib Kjelden, Chris and Chuck Strom, Pam and Pete Jerome, Sherry and Chuck Jerome. Honorary Bearers will be the Staff of Prairie View School and All of Debbie’s over 1100 “Kinderbunnies”. Debbie was born on March 22, 1954 at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, the daughter of Don and Janice (Guffey) Onerheim. At a very young age, she moved with her parents to Devils Lake and was raised and educated here, graduating from Devils Lake High School in the class of 1972. She attended Lake Region Junior College for 2 years, then transferred to UND, Grand Forks and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. Debbie was united in marriage to Craig Stromme on August 18, 1973 at Devils Lake and they have made Devils Lake their home for their entire life; living, working and raising their three sons here. Debbie taught Special Ed at Minnie H Elementary School for 5 years, then began a teaching position at Prairie View School, teaching kindergarten to over 1100 students and continuing there until the time of her death. She was a dedicated employee of the Devils Lake School System for 32 years and was named Teacher of the Year for the 1989-1990 school year. Teaching was her life and even when most teachers were taking the summer off, not Debbie. Each summer for 32 years, Debbie joined with her mother in providing swimming classes to all ages. Debbie was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and the XI TAU Sorority. She was a member and Past President of the ND Kindergarten Association and served as a member of various youth sports groups through the years. Debbie’s love, devotion and dedication to her husband, her sons and grandson, her family, her students and her dear friends radiated from her heart. That eagerness to learn, was contagiously passed on to her students in her smile and in her bright shining eyes. That love will never be forgotten and will remain forever in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Debbie is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 34 years, Craig Sons: Justin Stromme and his wife, Heather and her grandson, Keegan of Northwood Ryan Stromme and his wife, Shanene of Devils Lake Kale Stromme also of Devils Lake Mother: Janice Onerheim, Devils Lake Mother-In-Law: Delores Stromme of Broomfield, Colorado Craig’s Grandmother: Eileen LaBarre, Devils Lake Brother: Kent Onerheim and his wife, Durene of Fargo Sister: Vicki Nelson and her husband, Robert of Dilworth, MN Nieces and Nephews: Kyle and Lindsey Onerheim;Nicole and Riley Nelson;Aaron Blazer and Amber Acuna; Juliano and Isabella Moreno; Brothers-In-Law and Sisters-In-Law: Dan Stromme of Carbondale, Colorado Cindy Blazer and her husband, Tim of Gilbert, AZ Scott Stromme and his wife, Cindy of Grand Forks Gwen Moreno of Phoenix, AZ Aunts and Uncles: Shirley (Sheldon) Vincent, Yuma, AZ, Gordy (Mary) Guffey, Great Falls, MT, Terry (Isabel) Guffey, Newberg, Oregon, Harland Onerheim, Devils Lake, Dolores Fisk, Mesa, AZ, Sharon (Richard) Halvorson, Austin, TX, Sylvia (Aaron) Allan, Fergus Falls, MN, Janet (Jim) Volk, Seattle, WA, Bob (Lee) LaBarre, Vader, WA, Jim (Ginny) LaBarre, Eau Claire, WI, Carol (Bill) McDonald, Deering, ND, Betty (Gordon) Mathieson, Caldwell, Idaho, Linda Steinhaus, Fargo, Don (Barb) LaBarre, Devils Lake and Lori Denis also of Fargo. Many cousins also survive. She was preceded in death by her father, Don Onerheim; father-in-law, Floyd Stromme; maternal grandparents, Orville Guffey and Alma Guffey-Kjelden; paternal grandparents, Selmer and Bertha Onerheim; step grandfather, Ervin Kjelden.