Theodore STROH

FAMILY MEMORIES:

Son, Thomas Stroh: "Like Teddy Roosevelt, he walked softly andcarried a big stick! He loved to dance, fish and tell a good story orjoketo any who would listen. Just to watch him was far better thanthe joke or story could ever be. You see, this absolutely delightedhim! He was an honest man that would walk a mile to return incorrectchange. He also would not hesitate to let you know when he hadsomething to say."

Daughter, Dianne Stroh Barilotti: "Theodore (Ted) was born in ruralStreeter, North Dakota and came from a family of twelve children. Hereceived his early education in rural Streeter. In 1933 he moved toLaMoure, North Dakota with his parents and worked on the family farmuntil he joined the Army Reserves before WWII. His was one of thefirstunits to be called up for duty when the war broke out. Duringthe war he served as a Sargeant in the Armored Tank Division and wasstationed in France, Germany and Belgium. He was a veteran of theBattle ofthe Black Forest and received the Purple Heart for injuriessustainedduring that battle. At one time he was listed as missingbehind enemy lines. After the war ended he married Anna Ulmer andthey lived onthe Stroh home farm for a time before purchasing a smallfarm near Berlin. Due to Ted's war injuries and Anne's health, theymoved to Arizona and on to Escondido, California. Ted was employed bythe city of Escondido Parks and Recreation Department until hisretirement in 1978. He and Anne moved to Bullhead City, Arizona afterhe retired, but later returned to Escondido to be closer to family andfriends. Ted was proud to earn his high school diploma in June of1970. He loved todance, and was a prolific fisherman. He was adevoted family man andworked hard to make sure the children werenurtured spiritually. He was a very active grandparent.

Granddaughter, Amber Barilotti Altman: "Grampi loved all his kids andgrandkids with all of his heart. The best memories I have with himarewhen he would take us fishing.... We could always count on greatlaughs and good times to be had by all."

Daughter, Denice Stroh Hayashi: "Dad was, in my way of thinking,oneof the most honest people I have known. He was never pretentiousandyou always knew exactly where you stood with him. He worked veryhard but also liked to have a good time and go dancing with mama.When he retired he really loved to putter in his work shed and gofishing.

I'll always remember the long trips to North Dakota in the stationwagon, punctuated by stops in the Black Hills, Yellowstone and theBadlands. Most of our vacations were camping trips.

When Dad worked for the City of Escondido, he used to bring hometruckloads of grass clippings, and all of us children would climb inand play until we were itchy! I think he was proud of the two cityparks that he helped to develop. He also was pleased when hegraduated from high school, as he had to quit school to work on thefamily farm as a boy."

Daughter, Deborah Stroh Powers: "Dad was such a great craftsman andthere seemed to be nothing that he couldn't build or repair."

Grandsons, Brendan & Dennis Powers: "We were pretty young whenGrandpa died, but we remember going camping with Grandma and Grandpaat Silent Valley. Brendan caught a goldfish when he went fishing withGrandpa and we both enjoyed spending time in the garage where Grandpahad ahuge hat collection. We each still have one of them as a memoryof him."

Brother in law, Benjamin Ulmer: "Ted always approached one with asmile and perhaps a humerous remark. I remember he had a "dry humor"which made him so very likeable. He was more than a brother in law -hewas a very close friend. Ted and Ann were married when I was in theservice but did not go an a honeymoon until later. After mydischarge, they asked me to go with them on their honeymoon to theBlack Hillsof South Dakota, with the provision that I would help himdrive the car. That was unique, but I enjoyed it. I also rememberthat LeNora and I worked on his farm in LaMoure during harvest for acouple of weeks before school started for me in Fessenden. During avisit with Anne and Ted in Escondido, California, he was so very proudof all he had done for the Parks & Recreation Department while heheaded that part of the city of Escondido. He was also proud of thefact that he earned his high school diploma which he never had theopportunity to do as he grew up. While at home in Escondido, hehanded me a bottle of beer and said "Stroh is spoken here", using theadvertisement slogan. Ted was honest and so very loveable and Annealways called him her "Teddy". During his funeral, the pastor praisedall his construction work at the church, his honesty and unconditionallove, and said, "In Ted, what you saw is what you got"."

Brother in law, Karl Ulmer: "I knew Ted before entering the Armybecause our family and the Strohs visited frequently. They livednorthwest of LaMoure and came to our church in Fullerton. I don'tknow if Anne and Ted had anything going at that time - rather doubt itand don'treally know when they began their relationship.

Anyway, just prior to the battle at Aachen, Germany, the last big pushstarted toward Berlin. Our field hospital unit (67th) moved intoastaging area and all these tanks were going by slowly, sometimesstopping and yes, there was Ted Stroh standing in the hatch! Werecognized each other and later in the day he came by and gave me aride in his tank. The next morning about 4:00 A.M. all hell brokeloose and the push was on.

I remember Ted had a dry sense of humor and could be really funny!"

Brother in law and wife, Milton & Avelon Ulmer: "Ted was a favoriteof everyone that knew him. He was a man with a big heart and a lotoflove. He loved to tell stories! His laughter after telling itwouldalso get you in the same mood. He was so proud of his family.If hewas wearing a shirt that he had received from his kids, he woreit proudly and would tell us, "I got this from Cookie", (or Debbie orDianne, or Tommy or Timmy), whichever one had given it to him. Whenwe were at their house in Arizona one time, Ted had to fix usbreakfast since Anne was working. So, he made us REAL scrambled eggs,with all thespicy ingredients he could find. He did not think much ofjust PLAINscrambled eggs. It was always a treat to be around him."

Sister in law, Monica Ulmer Hallerud: "We knew the Stroh familybecause they attended the same church we did in Fullerton, but I don'tremember meeting Ted until he and Anne started dating. Ted was a goodnatured, unpretentious man with a heart of gold and was loved byeveryone he met. I lived with Ted and Anne one summer after schoolwas out and worked as a "Mother's Helper" to Anne. In our spare time,Ted attempted to teach me to drive a stick shift. He was a verypatient teacher, but I don't recall that I ever got the hang of it (Ikept killingthe engine!) Actually, we didn't practice that often, asthere was always work and chores to be done. However, he kept tryingpatiently to teach his "sis" to drive and be independent. I alsoremember that Ted liked to tell a good joke and laugh really hard.It's important to mention that he came from a Christian family and wasdevout in his beliefs and raised his children to be believers."

Nephew, Eric Hallerud: "Like Aunt Anne, I did not see Uncle Tedveryoften. He was friendly, soft spoken and a gentle soul. I dorecall talking about WWII with him..... I believe he was involved inthe allied invasion/liberation of Italy. I wish I could recall moreabout Tedand wish I'd had more opportunities to get to know him."

Sister in law, Gertrude Ulmer Anderson: "I spent a lot of time workingfor Ted and Anne when they lived in the LaMoure/Berlin area of NorthDakota. I was flower girl at their wedding and helped Anne on thefarm after their marriage. One Saturday night when we had come homefrom LaMoure and were putting the groceries away, Anne picked up a jugof wine and set it on the floor between the refrigerator and the wallin the kitchen. I looked up at Anne and asked innocently, "Do thefolks know you have that?"

I remember learning to drive at Ted's farm near Berlin. He had an oldtruck that I could use to practice driving and also a blue Plymouth.I drove them around the pasture learning how to steer and shift. Tedused to laugh at me a lot! I remember him as such a handsome man wholoved to tell stories. He spoke quite slowly and it seemed to takeforever for him to get to the end of the tale. Frequently he laughedbefore getting to the punch line which added to the enjoyment. Iremember helping plant trees around the farm and seeding lawn. Wealsoput in a basement and remodled the house while I helped out there. Imissed them when they moved to California, but had some good visitsthere too, later on. One time in particular, I remember when Teddubbed Anne and I the "Thunderbird Queens" because she and I haddowned a bottle of cheap Thunderbird wine along with a jar of theirhome cannedgreen olives."

Niece, Gwen Anderson Struble: "I remember Ted wearing his one piecejump suits that Anne made for him in later years. He was alwayssmiling it seemed, and I remember he had a tooth missing on the topleft side. He was always willing to tell us the story about losingthe tip of his finger. One visit to his house in Escondido, we got tosleep out in his camper and we even made s'mores on the back patio.Aunt Anne called him her "Teddy Bear." I thought that was neat!"

Niece, Sandra Anderson Bolduc: "Uncle Ted had a nice smile. Iremember him talking about his war days and showing off his collectionof war paraphenalia. When we visited him and Anne in California hetook us to see the Wild Animal Park and also the city park that was aworking project of his. Ted had a dry sense of humor to myrecollection and I remember the loving way he and Anne were ... shecalled him her "Teddy Bear"."