A gifted teacher who touched many lives, Debbie Stromme will be missed
By Mike Bellmore - Features Editor
Published: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 2:58 PM CDT



Debbie Stromme
Tributes were pouring in from near and far over the weekend and on Monday for Deb Stromme, a long-time Devils Lake educator who died Friday at Mercy Hospital after a year-long battle with (ALS) Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Stromme was hired by former Devils Lake Superintendent Dr. Richard Kunkel in 1976 as a kindergarten teacher at Praire View Elementary School, and evolved into one of the district’s most beloved and respected teachers over a period of 30-plus years.

“She was so impressive right from the start,’’ Kunkel said on Monday.


“It turned out so well that all the parents wanted their child in her class. She was loved and respected by the whole school district and will be forever remembered for her kindness and love for kids.’’

Funeral services for Stromme will be held Thursday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church at 3:30 p.m. Peace Lutheran Church Pastor Rev. Rafe Allison will officiate and burial will be at the Devils Lake Cemetery.

School officials, teachers and students were informed of her death on Friday. Notes were sent home with each youngster at Prairie View School informing the parents of each of Stromme’s passing, and they were to inform their children.



It made for a tough Friday, according to Allison (Soper) Yoder, one of a handful of Stromme’s former kindergarten students who were teaching alongside her at Prairie View.

“The thing I’ll always remember about her was that she was always smiling, friendly and cheery,’’ Yoder said. “She knew everyone. It’s just a tough time right now.’’

Retiring Prairie View Principal Julie Schuler was having a tough time with her words Monday. She termed Stromme a remarkable person and a teacher.



“She touched the lives of so many,’’ said Schuler. “She made kindergarten meaningful for the kids and was a tremendous role model for staff in her loyalty to the district and the school.’’

“She had such a desire to excel and do her best.’’

Lexie (LaFleur) Dion called her former kindergarten instructor a tremendous teacher because she made so many youngsters love school. She had a direct bearing on her decision to become a teacher.



“Friday was a tough day, and I expect it to be a tough week,’’ she said.

Angie (Follman) Wakefield, another of her former students, was having a tough time holding back the tears on Monday. She not only had educational experiences with Stromme, but helped her with swimming lessons during the summer.

She said she will remember her for the classy and friendly way she treated everybody. Angie said she’d often watch Debbie at work and hope she could replicate how she operated.



“Debbie always made kids feel so special,’’ she said. She affected and inspired so many people and kids and she will really be missed.’’

Devils Lake Superintendent Steve Swiontek said Stromme was a person who really loved and cared for each of the kids under her wing every year, and that included his own son, Connor.

He said she was active in promoting full-day kindergarten in North Dakota, testifying in front of the Senate Education Sub-Committee in the North Dakota Legislature. She was a former Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Quarter in the school district, and president of the North Dakota Kindergarten Association a handful of years ago.



“She will be missed very much,’’ the top Devils Lake administrator said.

Carol Leevers was a former teaching mate of Stromme’s at Prairie View years ago, and remembers a lot of enjoyable hockey trips, hockey fun, and hockey camps with the Strommes.

“She had a heart of gold and was so generous,’’ Carol recalled.



Former Superintendent Ron Bommersbach called Debbie one of the finest, kindest and most compassionate people he ever knew. Her kids simply loved her - every year she worked, he said.

“She’ll be sorely mised by the kids, the school and the community,’’ he said.

There will be a visitation at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service conducted by Rev. Dale Kinzler at 5:30 p.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church from 1 p.m. until the time of service.



Memorials are to be directed to a future Debbie Stromme Scholarship Fund.