Alta "Darlene" Strand

Alta “Darlene” Moffitt Strand was born July 3, 1929 in Akron, Colorado to Theodore Irving and Alta Molly (Welty) Moffitt.  She passed away on November 3, 2020 at the Regent Park Nursing and Rehabilitation & Carriage House in Holyoke, Colorado.

Through her early childhood, the family moved numerous times, including Brush, Colorado and Hollywood, California.  They eventually settled in the Akron area and then to the Otis area.

Darlene was baptized as a teenager in the Presbyterian Church in Otis, Colorado.  She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis Colorado.

She attended school and graduated in Otis.  During High School, she worked at the Otis Drug Store.  After graduation she taught in a country school through a government program for rural schools.

Darlene married Roy Strand on June 3, 1951 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Otis.  Three sons were born to this union.  Robert, Ray, and Rodney. 

Darlene was involved with home extension club and the church sewing gild, enjoyed raising beautiful flowers and working in her yard, drove a combine, drove a 1949 farm truck, and worked as an elections officer for Washington County.

Darlene loved the farm and loved her family.                                                                      

Sewing, crocheting, and crafts were her passion.  Everyone has an afghan and beer can chairs.  She would have granddaughter sleepovers that were always a lot of fun.

Before Roy died, he would cut out wooden crafts and Darlene would paint them and sometimes make clothing for them.  They had a lot of fun with it.

Darlene would have crafting parties with all of the grandchildren at birthday’s each year.  She would plan the crafts for months ahead and make sure she had enough materials for all of them to have a great time.

Every party had to have popcorn balls and cheesecake.  She always had a bucket full of candy for every gathering.  She did have a cow cookie jar that would moo when you took the lid off so she knew if you were stealing snacks. 

Darlene was preceded in death by her husband Roy; parents; two brothers (Melvin and Delmar); and a sister, Dorothy Nitzel; and numerous brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws.

Left to mourn her passing are her sons, Bob (Rhonda), Ray (Sally), and Rodney (Jacquie), all of Otis; one sister, Bernita Reiners (Harlan) of McCook NE; one brother, Ted Moffitt (Glenda) of Phoenix, AZ; 12 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren;  numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous other family and friends.

Please make any memorials or donations to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Ladies Aid.

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