Almira Strate

Almira Eleanor (Pretzer)

Strate, 85, Peoria, Arizo-

na, formerly of Minot,

died July 10, 2022, in

Hospice of the Valley in

Phoenix, AZ.

Almira (Mira) was born

September 23, 1936, in

Voltaire, North Dakota,

the daughter of Ernest and

Alda (Johnson) Pretzer.

She was raised on her

father’s family farm in

North Prairie, Velva. She

attended a one room

schoolhouse at North

Prairie and attended Velva

High School. She then

moved to Williston and

graduated from Williston

High School in 1954 fol-

lowing the death of her

mother, Alda, in 1954.

Mira was united in mar-

riage to Larry Strate on

June 5, 1954, in Velva.

They lived in Stanley

briefly before settling in

Minot where she spent

the majority of her life.

Mira raised her three chil-

dren in Minot and was

employed by Minot Public

Schools as a librarian at

Jefferson and North Hill

Elementary schools for 25

years before retiring in

1998. She greatly enjoyed

working with the many

children at those schools

and the friendship of her

many coworkers.

Throughout her life in

Minot, Mira enjoyed the

many friendships with

her neighbors. She was a

member of Christ Luth-

eran and Bethany Luth-

eran churches. Larry and

Mira enjoyed dancing at

the Elks and Eagles Clubs.

Mira made friends easily

and was an enthusiastic

conversationalist. She was

a sharp card player and

was a member of a bridge

club for many years in

Minot. For many years,

she supported Larry in

farming his family’s

homestead south of Velva.

Following the loss of

their home in the flood of

2011, Larry and Almira

relocated to Peoria, AZ,

where they had previous-

ly spent many winters en-

joying exploring Arizona

and spending time with

their Arizona grandchil-

dren.

After Larry’s death in

June 2012, Mira made her

home in Westbrook Vil-

lage, Peoria, AZ, where

she made many new

friends and volunteered at

the local library.

Throughout her life,

Mira maintained a close

relationship with her si-

blings, Arlo (Pat) Pretzer,

Wallace (Shari) Pretzer

and Bonny (Dr. Lee)

Groshong. Together they

traveled around the coun-

try, spending holidays

and special occasions

with their many nieces

and nephews and their

extended families. She

cherished these close rela-

tionships throughout her

life.

Mira was preceded by

in death by her parents,

her loving husband of 58

years, Larry, son, Dean,

and her brother Arlo.

Her surviving family in-

cludes, children, William

(Janet) Strate, Windsor

Heights, IA; Sandra (Dr.

Gregory) Whelan, Peoria,

AZ; four grandchildren

who gave her much pride

and joy, Marnie (Nick

Strickland) Strate, Cullan

(Shelby) Whelan, Sally

Whelan, and Jackson

Whelan; and her great

grandson, Simon Strate

Strickland as well as her

brother Wallace (Shari)

Pretzer of Sartell, MN,

and sister, Bonny

Groshong of Portland, OR,

and her many nieces,

nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life

service will be on October

7, 2022, at 1:00 pm, at

Bethany Lutheran

Church, Minot. To view a

livestream of the service

or to share memories and

condolences access her

obituary at: thomasfamily

funeralhome.com

Interment: A graveside

service will be held at

Rosehill Memorial Park,

Minot, immediately fol-

lowing the service.

A Sharing of Memories

Reception will be held fol-

lowing the services on Fri-

day, October 7, 2022, at

the church.

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot is entrusted

with arrangements.