Leroy Strand was born on an Iowa farm in 1919. When Leroy was 13 years old, he purchased his first 2 calves for 4-H. They were fed in a barn a block from his home. The next year his father built a small barn south of the house. This barn had a pen for the calves, a double stall for the two ponies and space for a milk cow. Leroy milked the cow.

He graduated from the Plymouth High School in 1936 as valedictorian. After graduation, he worked for his father in the livestock business. In 1940, he became a partner in the business.

He was drafted into the US Army in August of 1942. After basic training, his Army career was spent in the South Pacific Theater. The Osnes Ranch at Geyser, Montana was purchased while he was in the service. He was discharged in September 1945.

Leroy spent as much time as he could at the ranch, but most of his time was spent in Iowa. Once the present ranch house was finished in 1979, he started to spend most of his time at the ranch.

In 1981, he married Claris Loberg. Claris was born in Lennep, Montana in 1920. Claris grew up breaking horses and ranching. After marriage Claris enjoyed working on the ranch and cooking. She enjoyed being in and around the mountains.

Leroy and Claris enjoyed following the functions held at the Geyser School. They enjoyed watching the success of kids from the beginning to the end. That is why Leroy & Claris decided to make the Leroy and Claris Strand Foundation—or the Strand Foundation for short. The foundation was developed to provide grants to Geyser and the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, Leroy did not have kids of his own. But the surrounding communities became his children. The goal of the foundation is to provide funds for many generations of small communities to benefit from the generosity of Leroy and Claris. The legacy of the Strand’s shall live on for many years to come.

***Excerpts taken from “From the Shellrock to the Highwoods” by Leroy Strand.***