Norman Dwain Stricklin, Sr.
Our Lord and Savior has opened His arms to welcome him home. With Dwain’s passing, it is truly the end of an era for our family, as parents and all four members of “first” family have passed.
Norman DWAIN Stricklin was born July 17, 1928 in Liberal, Kansas, the third son of Clarence Jasper Stricklin and Edith Iscoletta Bain Stricklin. Older brothers were Loren Curtney born in Herington, Kansas and Elvest Ernest born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dwain was followed by a sister, Delores Gwendolyn (Dee), also born in Liberal. The family moved to Licking, Missouri during the Depression (1933-1939) where the family lived in a two-room house without electricity, and all water had to be carried to the home. The four children attended a one-room schoolhouse where a young Imogene Sturgeon was their teacher. Dwain was the one remaining member of our family who, as a very young boy, met and remembered our maternal Great Grandmother Anna Cann, a Potawatomi Indian who lived with the family in Licking for her few remaining years. A paternal Great Grandmother was Iroquois Indian; both our parents were born in OK, (Clarence 1902, Edith 1905), which was Indian Territory before becoming a state (1907). Hence, our American Indian heritage, and proud of it!
In the fall of 1939, the family moved to Boise, Idaho to enable their father to find work. A surprise came the following June, 1940, when Lila Evadne (quickly dubbed “Boots” by her Daddy) was added to the family; two years later in 1942, Kay Eileen was born, and later in October 1947 another son, Alva DEAN Stricklin, completed the “second” family. Arriving in Boise about 11 years of age, Dwain was very close to his older brother, Elvest, three years his senior, and in teen years, the two became interested in tennis, and also tumbling. They worked up several routines and performed their gymnastics during half-times at Boise High School basketball games – spectators tossed coins of appreciation at them; Dwain said he and Elvest also performed for various civic groups in Boise — very entrepreneurIng young men! During those years the two also had paper routes for The Idaho Statesman. Additionally, during his teen years, Dwain and sister Delores weeded vegetable crops in the Chinese gardens in presently Garden City, 10 hours a day for 10 cents an hour in blistering sun. Our older two brothers, Loren and Elvest, joined military forces of U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy during WWII, serving in the Pacific.
After graduation from Boise High School, Dwain married Margaret Louise Hamon. Sons born to them were Norman, James, Thomas, Joseph, and a daughter, Rachelle. Dwain wore many hats during his lifetime – a draftsman, a butcher, a painter, a rockhound -hunting and polishing stones, a fisherman, and always a heartfelt love for tennis.
Margaret passed of cancer in 1988. In 1991 Dwain and Dorothy Ryals were married. They were very active in University Christian Church (across from BSU) and began a tour of countries in association with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) to visit orphanages, taking videos about Jesus, and also taking toiletries (soaps, toothpaste and toothbrushes, combs, etc.) for the children. Among countries were Russia, Ireland, England, Hawaii and Philippines. While in England, they were seated in Center Court at Wimbledon!!!-a tremendous experience for a lad born in Liberal, Kansas! Dwain played tennis until the age of 87 years with the seniors in Boise when he developed macular degeneration (and also had to stop driving!)
In 2003, Dwain and Dorothy accompanied his sister Boots, and her husband Fred on an amazing trip to Israel with Dr. Linfield Crowder, who had invited us as a special promotional trip including a very special price. We were very fortunate to go to the land of Jesus; Dwain always said, even recently, “That was a good trip!” – and most certainly it was.
Dwain will be remembered as a very likable guy, easy-going, a very hard worker, a trusted and dependable son to his parents, and a dedicated Christian. Even in his last years, after a stroke and in a wheelchair, he would use a magnifying glass to read his Bible regularly. Dorothy stayed with him in the care center and lovingly cared for him.
He was a dearly loved, greatly admired, and precious brother to me, his little sister, Boots. –Lila Stricklin Faulks Memorial service to be planned for a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.