Obituary of Orville Lowell Strandquist

Orville Lowell Strandquist left us peacefully at Heritage House in Stettler, Alberta on January 5, 2012 at the age of 91 years. Orville was the youngest child of Louis and Bernice Strandquist born February 22, 1920. He grew up on the farm south of Stettler and attended the Wall Lake School. Growing up in the 1920’s farming with horses and always having a dog by his side, shaped him into the man he became. He entered his first horse race when he was 11 years and he knew that was the life for him. He entered bull riding at the Calgary Stampede for the first time in 1937. Thinking that bull riding was too dangerous he took to wagon and horse racing. This was his passion for the next 60 years. It may be an understatement to say he lived a full, active, exciting life. For Orville, everyday was an adventure. If you were lucky enough to travel down the road with him; you’d soon learn, he’d never holler whoa. Orville was an avid reader, loved poetry as well as art, as his many oil paintings will show. He was the happiest when he was surrounded by horses, dogs and kids. He always said, “There’s room for one more.” Orville is predeceased by his wife Doris in 2008; his brothers Lester, Lloyd and Merle; son in law Ed Melville. Orville is survived by his children: Faye (Chuck) Blakely, Judi Melville, Ron (Sue) Strandquist, Wanda (Randy) Armstrong, Cindy (John) Parks, Rocky Strandquist and Vicky (Darren) Anderson; 13 grandchildren: Shawn, Tony (Jackie), Carmen (Brian), Billy (Joanne), Eddie (Debbie), Wade (Shauna), Monica (Cam), Lisa (Shawn), Rory, John, Levi (Charlene), Lacey, and J.D.; 8 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.