Muriel Ness Strand

Muriel Ness Strand, 98, of Beaverton, OR passed away on October 29, 2016. Private inurnment preceded a memorial service, which will be held Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 2 PM at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4330 NE 37th Street in Portland.

Muriel was born in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa on November 25, 1917 to George and Georgia Stumprud. She attended Central High School – then Castle on the Hill – and then business college in Sioux City.

On June 7, 1942, Muriel married Lawrence Halseth Ness. After Larry served the Army in Oregon, Muriel took a train ride to join her husband in Portland. They raised three children together. Larry died in 1976.

Muriel was employed at Western Union, the railroad, and later as a Portland Public Schools’ secretary at Jefferson and Adams High Schools and Whittaker Middle School. Following retirement, Muriel married Arvid Strand on May 8, 1982.

Muriel especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, dancing, arranging flowers, cooking and baking, making creative art, playing cards, and traveling.

Muriel is preceded in death by her parents, George and Georgia; sister Elaine; husbands Larry (34 years) and Arvid (17 years).

She is survived by sons Robert (Maryann) and Richard; daughter Marilyn (Dale) Hunnicutt, step-son Thomas (Carol) Strand and step-daughter Kris (Steve) Munch; grandchildren Kari (Will) Velez, Ian (Mary) Hunnicutt, Jenna Ness-Neumann; step-grandchildren Julie (Ben) Woodward, Erik (Laci) Strand, Dan Munch, Ken Munch, Kimberly (Joe) Ransiear, Alise (Beumxay) Suebsanh, and Shaine (David) Andersen; niece Lynn (Alan) Teichert, and nephew Charles (Corine) Murphy; plus seventeen great-grandchildren.

The family of Muriel is very grateful to Edgewood Arbor Memory Care and Housecall Providers and their hospice for excellent care given.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either St. Matthew’s Lutheran or Bethany Lutheran Churches in Portland, Oregon, or to one’s favorite charity.