Retired Lt. Colonel Almon Burton Strong, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and Patriot passed away December 22, 2016 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His beloved wife of 63 years, Marjorie Foster Strong, preceded him in death. His daughter, Ann Lee and husband Knute of Albuquerque, son, Cameron Strong and wife Irish of Seattle, Washington, and daughter, Nancy Jo Ronde of Seattle, Washington survive him. Five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews also survive Al as well as many devoted friends.

Al was born in Ward County, North Dakota on April 26, 1918 to Joseph Centennial Strong and Loretta Marlenee Strong. The second youngest of seven boys, Al lost his mother at age 8 and from that time until high school graduation, he was raised by his father, the McHenry County Sheriff. After graduation from Towner High School as an outstanding academic and student athlete, he attended Worsham Mortuary College in Chicago, Illinois. After graduation, Al went to work for Thomas Funeral Home in Minot, North Dakota and, at this same time, enrolled in the North Dakota Army National Guard. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the National Guard was called into active duty and Al was assigned to the 188th Field Artillery Regiment, which was a medical detachment. Al entered the military as a private, but went on to graduate from the US Army Officer's Candidate School. His graduation from OCS coincided with the deployment of his detachment to the European Theater of WW II where he served with distinction. Al participated in D-Day, the Liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and, among other assignments, he prepared and oversaw the placing of portable airfields in advance of the Tactical Air Command. He also was assigned the monumental task of preparing and accompanying the medical units that liberated Buchenwald Concentration Camp. During this time, Al's unit was transferred into the Army Air Force and then eventually, the United States Air Force. Al not only served during World War II, but he had a 30 plus year Active Duty career in the US Air Force which included the Korean Conflict as well as the Viet Nam War before retiring in 1970 in the USAF Medical Service Corps. Al's last duty assignment was as Executive Officer of John Moses Hospital, Minot AFB, North Dakota.

Al's many military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Award, 6 Bronze Stars (for Campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Alsace, Rhineland and Air Offensive Europe), National Defense Service Award, The Belgian Fourrage Citation, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award. Al's family, however, considers his greatest achievement to be that of loving father, devoted husband and steadfast friend to many. As a patriotic member of the Greatest Generation, Al never lost his commitment or enthusiasm for veterans' and their families and, during his lifetime, supported many organizations that help veterans re-establish their lives once their military service has been completed.

Al was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a Life Member of the Elks, a Life Member of the American Legion, a Life member of the Disabled Veterans of America, and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

A memorial celebration of the life of Almon B. Strong will be held on July 27, 2017 in Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, Minot.

Al will be interred next to his wife, Marge, in the veteran's section of Rosehill Cemetery in Minot, North Dakota. Should friends' desire, memorial contributions should be made to Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758541, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8541.

Those wishing to sign the online memorial register or share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.

A favorite Air Force saying of Al: "The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer." Well done, Good and Faithful Servant.