Carroll R. Strahl

Carroll R. Strahl, 89-year-old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Monday, December 11, 2017, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Burial will be in the Randall City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-6 P.M. on Friday and from 10-11 A.M. on Saturday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Carroll Raymond Strahl began his journey through life on August 3, 1928, the son of Raymond and Luella (Taylor) Strahl. He was raised in Parker Township near Randall. Carroll attended a country school and graduated from Little Falls High School in 1946. In 1943, he and his family spent a year working in the shipyards in Portland, Oregon to support the war effort. After high school graduation, Carroll attended teacher training in Little Falls. He married Dorothy Olson and they had three children, Shelley, Candis, and Bill. Carroll taught in various Morrison County country schools and spent 3 years teaching in a logging camp in the Superior National Forest. In 1957, he moved to Anoka where he was a teacher and later a principal. He received his Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1963. In 1966, he left Anoka to join the Agency for International Development (AID), U.S. State Department. He worked in education in Vietnam and in Afghanistan until 1972. Carroll returned to the Washington, D.C. area and worked for various federal agencies. In July 1978, while working in Nigeria for AID, he met Becky Jacobsen. They were engaged in August and married on November 24, 1978 in Alexandria, Virginia. The couple have one daughter, Sarah, who has been one of the greatest joys of his life. In 1980, Carroll, Becky, and Sarah returned to his beloved childhood family farm, west of Randall. For the next 20 years, Carroll cut and sold firewood and raised farm animals. In 2013, the family moved into Little Falls. As a young man, Carroll was the pitcher for the Randall baseball team. In later life, Carroll enjoyed a good beer, playing tennis, playing black jack at the casino, and spending time in the woods. He was a loving husband and father. Carroll’s earthly journey ended at St. Otto’s Care Center on December 11, 2017. He was blessed with a loving family. He lived an adventure-filled, wonderful, long life. He is survived by his wife, Becky of Little Falls, MN; children, Candis (Bill) Low of Arlington, TX; Bill (Vania) Strahl of Windermere, FL; and Sarah Strahl of Little Falls, MN; 5 grandchildren, Adam (Marie), Amber, Ben (Maria) Castillo, Jordan (Desarae), and Savannah (Hunter Avant) Low; 12 great-grandchildren; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Berty (Larry) Webber, Vicki (Jack) DeAngelo; nephews and niece, Devon, Andy, and Stefanie DeAngelo; his honorary granddaughter, Chris Marcotte; and many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Luella; and his daughter, Shelley. Memorials preferred to CHI Hospice of Little Falls, the Alzheimer’s Association, or Employment Enterprises of Little Falls, where his daughter, Sarah, attends a day program.

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Carroll R. Strahl

August 3, 1928 - December 11, 2017