Daniel Wayne Stratton, age 65 of Westhope, died peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the St. Mary's Hospital on Rochester, MN after a long courageous fight against cancer.  His funeral will be held on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 10:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Westhope.  Visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to the Turtle Mountain Cancer Support or Farm Rescue.

Daniel, son of Paul and June Jacobson Stratton, was born on January 5th, 1954 at the St. Andrews Hospital in Bottineau ND. Daniel lived in Westhope ND until 1960 when the family moved into their home farmstead just southeast of Westhope. Dan was active in 4H showing calves, and they also had a few sheep. Daniel went to school at the Westhope Public School beginning his kindergarten year all the way through his Senior year, graduating in 1972. While in school his classmates said that Dan was quiet, friendly, and was always there lending a helping hand. He was active in FFA, band, football, basketball, track, and was the President of his Senior graduating class. In the fall of 1972 Daniel went to college at the State School of Science in Wahpeton ND and received his degree in Computer Science. After finishing college, he got his first job at the State Capitol working with computers. Soon after he decided to return back home to farm with his father Paul and brother Michael. Through the years Daniel was involved with the Farm Bureau, active in the Presbyterian Church, raised a Lutheran, and was Secretary/Treasurer of the Sergius Township Board

In October of 1979, Daniel married Debra McKechnie. They made their first home one mile south of Westhope. Daniel and Debi raised two daughters, Ashley and Kelsey. Ashley and Kelsey gave 7 beautiful grandchildren to Daniel and Debi. Dan loved them all the same even though each were uniquely different. Dan especially loved going to their activities. Even though some were located far away, he thought of them always. During the fall of 2013 the family moved into their newly built home located on his parents farm southeast of Westhope. Dan and Debi have been renovating the farm with new trees and have busy with other things to call it their own.

2009 was when Daniel got his first bout with cancer and as such was unable to take his own crop off that year. He had the great pleasure of getting help from the great people of Farm Rescue and help from lots of friends and neighbors. Daniel still continued to plant his own crops but had Wulff Harvesting of Clinton MN and cousin Keith Stratton take the crops off. Dan was always there hauling the grain and helping out with whatever else was needed. Daniel had already started to plan for the upcoming Spring planting this year in hopes of being able to still put it in. What a TRUE farmer!!!

Daniel is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Debra; daughters Ashley (Lucas) Jelleberg of Mesa AZ and Kelsey Stratton of Mohall ND; seven wonderful grandchildren, Tatum, Sydney, and Madison Jelleberg of Mesa AZ, and Parker, Maddy, Bryce, and Brayden Johnson of Mohall ND; his mother June Stratton of Bottineau ND; brother Michael (Pricilla) Stratton of Kalispell MT; sister Judith Larson of Spring TX; nephews Ben, Tyler, Brock and Griffin Stratton, and Matthew Larson; niece Natalie Larson; brother-in-law John( Cathi) McKechnie, sister-in-law Judith Innes, and sister-in-law Diane ( Alan) Pearson.

Daniel is preceded in death by his father Paul Stratton, brother in-law Larry Larson, paternal grandparents Jacob and Elfreida Jacobson, and maternal grandparents William and Hulda Stratton.