"Dear Marilyn, Brian, Brad, Patrick, and Vicky. I am thinking of you all during this difficult time. I will miss Dalmer a lot. I remember being a kid and loved coming to your house back in the day. We had a lot of fun over there and I loved playing with Vicky who had the best toys! I loved being over there and enjoying Marilyn's "icky apple pie" and her amazing meals she would make for us. There are so many memories of family time over the years with you all, I could write a 1000 page novel. I am glad I can cherish the memory of the time Dalmer took me to an auction with him, and it was just us 2. He drove his motor coach up and I sat in the front seat and we chatted all the way up to the auction near the cities somewhere. He was helping me car shop and found a camaro at the auction that we went to go look at. It was a fun day among many other wonderful memories over all of these years. Dalmer will be dearly missed, but we will see him again someday. Love to you all. Debbi"
In loving memory of
Dalmer H. Strain
April 9, 1938 - December 5, 2020
Dalmer H. Strain, 82, of Eyota, MN, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Arbor Gardens Place in Eyota.
Dalmer was born April 9, 1938 at the family home in Olmsted County to Lloyd and Clara Arlene (Younger) Strain. He was a graduate of Chatfield High School. On December 8, 1957, Dalmer married Marilyn Christenson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. After several entrepreneurial businesses as a young man, he joined his parents as co-owners of Strain's Bus Company. Dalmer went on to own and operate the charter bus service, Bold Lines Inc./Strain Motorcoach Tours. Throughout his busing career, Dalmer prided himself on giving his bus patrons personalized service and went out of his way to ensure everyone enjoyed their travels, whether it was a school sporting event or trip of a lifetime. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, playing cribbage and spending time with his family.
Dalmer is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marilyn; children, Bryan (Marie) Strain of Eagan, MN, Bradley Strain of Rochester, MN, Patrick (Amy) Strain of Onalaska, WI and Victoria (Michael) Fachin of Owatonna, MN; grandchildren, Sarah and Erick Strain, Ashley, Cody and Tyler Strain, Emily and Abigail Strain and Brandon Fachin; sisters, Patricia (Jerry) Davis, Sandra (Dan) Schwering and brother, Scott Strain. Dalmer was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Arlene and by his brother, Burdene.
A memorial service to celebrate Dalmer's life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 222 6th Ave. SW, Rochester, MN, where he and Marilyn were long-time members. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service. Rev. Nathaniel Schwartz will be officiating with inurnment at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Due to Covid-19, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. The memorial service will also be livestreamed at www.trinitylutheranchurch.org Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Strain family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com
Tributes
"My prayers and thoughts go out to all the family. I'm sorry I didn't hear of the passing of Dalmer until today. Denny and I had many fun times playing cards, fishing, and joking around with Dalmer and Marilyn and families. Denny enjoyed working for Strain's Bus Company for many years and they all treated us like family. Dalmer will truly be missed by all. There are a few more angels in heaven now. Maybe they can get a good game of cards or cribbage going. Take Care and God Bless you all. Love, Sandy Berhow"
"We are so sorry to hear about Dalmer. So many great memories of visiting at the farm. He always had a big smile and teased us a lot. He had a big heart. "
"I am so sorry to hear of Dalmers passing. I drove a lot of miles with Dalmer and Strains Bus Company. My sympathy to the Strain family."
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Uncle Dalmer. We want to extend our sympathies to Aunt Marilyn, Bryan, Bradley, Patrick and Vicki. May peace and comfort find you'all during this difficult time. Love, David, Malinda, James, Michael, Camie and Sean Molde."
"Sincere condolences to Marilyn and the Strain family. Dalmer was a best friend to all of his bus passengers. He always went out of his way to make us enjoy the trips we took with him, to a casino or longer trips, like Mesa, AZ. or Canada and Deadwood S.D. We will always remember him, sitting proudly up front in the driver's seat of the bus. He was a professional ! He will be missed by us all. Jim & Marion Smith ( Lyle, MN. ) "
"Suzy and Tom Fenske: I spent a lot of my childhood at Uncle Dalmers . I kept my horses by his home. He was always there to help if Sandy and I need help with the horses. He was a wonderful uncle. He brought Tom and my bikes out to Colorado when we lived in Boulder. He was on a bus tour and we meet him. Condolences to the family!!! He will be missed!"
"Our deepest condolences to the Strain family. Dalmer was a good guy and will be missed. I worked for Dalmer, Burdene, Lloyd and Arlene for a number of years. They always treated me like one of the family. We snowmobiled, back in the day, with Dalmer and Marilyn, big long lines of those pretty orange and black AMF sleds. We had many great times with them all!! Again, we offer our most sincere condolences to the entire family. Denny and Joyce Kildahl"
"Jerry Davis Memories galore Good memories galore. Bear in tent. Run out of gas on Mississippi river and flagged down a Minnesota State Trooper on the highway with our "T" shirts. Ran out of gas in back waters of Mississippi and Dalmer jumped in and pulled us upriver for 5 miles with a rope in his teeth. Can't believe we didn't see even 1 boat on the river in hours. He never gave up. ( I can't swim). But we only stayed and made ONE LAST PASS because the walleyes were biting. Dalmer was a great uncle to my 3 kids. They were all proud to say he awas their Uncle. "
"John Davis My most overwhelming feeling or memory I will carry with me is not a specific memory, but a sense of happiness I always had from being around him. I remember deer hunting with Dalmer and the family for two weekends a year when I was a teenager. The kindness, happiness, and warmth that I felt in his home was directly related to Dalmer?s personality. Dalmer was extremely unselfish. He would go out of his way to make me feel part of the hunting party, treating me in many ways like an adult, from the age of 12. He always greeted me, was excited to see me, and asked questions, listened, and talked to me in a manner that made me feel special. Most adults do not go out of their way to make a 12 year older feel that way, but Dalmer always did that for me. He told me his hunting stories, always asked about my girlfriends (just like his Dad did) and always laughed and joked with me. I remember his red hunting gear, his knowledge of the wildlife around his home, and the joy he had in telling the stories of the deer and birds around his place. The excitement of turkeys coming to the area and his hunt for that special buck (specifically the Albino buck). His joy of the outdoors, his passion for family and the meals we enjoyed as a family together will never be forgotten. His unique smile and understanding that we both had the same passions in life will be the biggest thing I will miss about him. He could talk: ?let me tell you John? always meant there was a good story coming. He was a story teller, and I loved to listen. I don?t remember stories of his big fish, just about the fun he had in the ?special trip?. Dalmer will be missed, but always remembered. Very special soul. I hope to have a little of his kindness and unselfish attitude toward others, as that always made me feel happy when I was with him. John Davis 651-470-8024"
"Many good, fun memories of Uncle Dalmer! I miss you dearly, but know you are in a better, pain-free place now. Thanks for being a great uncle and Peace to you, my dear family."
"So sorry for your families loss. My Dad was Ray King and they went on fishing and hunting trips together many years ago. Lloyd was our school bus driver. He took a bunch of us kids roller skating at the Byron roller rink. Fun times. God be with each of you during your time of need. "
"Dalmer loved people and visiting with them. The folks who took trips with Dalmer & Marilyn became their 2nd family, they referred to them as their "bus family". If there are buses in Heaven, I'm sure he is wanting to drive it! "
"Through the years I have been loved and protected by my big brother. I know that he has always cared for family. There isn?t anything he wouldn?t do to help any of us. I did worry though whenever him and Jerry got together. They had a bear get in their tent. It sounds like a fishing story, but it?s true. They ran out of gas in the boat, twice that I know of. I was with them on one of those trips. It?s a long story. I will miss my big brother , but I know that God loves him too. He?s now in God?s hands and that?s good news."
"I am so very sorry to hear about Dalmer. I worked at Meskwaki hotel so I seen him when he brought his bus in for overnight tours. He was a great guy and I enjoyed working with him. He will be missed alot!! Terri Mason"
"Will remember the many years of friendship we had with Dalmer & Marilyn. Thanks for the fun & experiences at Strain Tours."
"I'am glad that I had the opportunity to take care of Delmar. And getting to know Dalmer and Marilyn. Dalmer always had a story to tell me about fishing, hunting and about Golden glove boxing. He will be missed. Sending prayers to the family."