Duane Norman Strinden, a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, and a dedicated teacher, passed away on October 23, 2008, at the age of 85, at United General Hospital in Sedro Woolley with his family by his side.
He was born on August 23, 1923, in Fargo, ND., the son of Norman and Lucille Green Strinden Johnston. He lived in St. Paul, MN, and then moved to New Brighton. He worked part time as a delivery boy for a grocery store, and on a melon farm. At the age of 19, he volunteered for the U.S. Marines. He trained at Fort Pendelton in Oceanside, CA. Following training, Duane was sent to the South Pacific where he fought in the battles on Tulagi, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian with R & R in New Zealand to recuperate from malaria. He was discharged on October 23, 1945 at the rank of Corporal.
Duane returned to St. Paul then relocated to Olympia, WA, where he worked for a short time in the Dept. of Licensing in the State Capital. He attended St. Martin’s College, graduating Cum Laude in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
He married LaDonna M. Olson on June 17, 1949, in Olympia. Soon after, they moved to Seattle, and, after taking three years leave to work as a parole officer to gather data for his Masters thesis, he obtained his Masters Degree from the University of Washington in 1959. While attending the UW, he and a team of fellow students, worked on a project for the U.S. Air Force which took them to Washington D.C. and New York City.
Duane went on to become a dedicated teacher and taught Social Studies at Garfield High School and Franklin High, where he started the first team-teaching program in the nation. He wrote the text for the classes which has been used by many schools in the U.S. He then went on to teach Sociology, Psychology and Criminology at Highline Community College until moving to Sedro Woolley to fulfill his desire to work the land. He and his wife bought a beef ranch. It was at this time that he began teaching at Burlington-Edison High School and there he continued teaching until his retirement in 1985. His students affectionately named him ‘The Old Goat’, and loved and respected him dearly.
Duane was a man of many talents. Not only did he finish an addition to their home, he also carved carousel horses and other wood carvings and furniture.
Duane is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, LaDonna, one daughter and two sons; Tina Miller Rick, Chris Lynne and Eric Sheryl. He is also survived by his brother Harlon Strinden and his sister Mary Freid Bob, as well as his twelve grandchildren; David, Brady and Justin Miller, Drew, Zane & Holly Shapiro and Dane Strinden, Ryan Grant, Ashley Bond Brandon, Ian, Jesse and Lukas Strinden.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., at Lemley Chapel in Sedro Woolley, WA. Please share your memories of Duane and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com.

To view the webcast of the service click here.