Ed & Marlene Straus Family

Congratulations to the Ed & Marlene Straus family for being awarded the “2010 A Family Tradition Award.”  Ed a 1961 graduate from the Diesel Technology Program and his wife Marlene attended in 1955-56 in Business.

Ed & Marlene grew up in Valley City ND, both graduating from St. Catherine Catholic Education in 1954 & 1955 respectively.  Ed entered the US Air Force in September of 1954; they were married April 27, 1957 in Valley City, ND.   After being discharged from the air force in June of 1958, Ed worked for Montgomery Ward in Valley City for one year before entering the North Dakota State School of Science in September of 1959.   Ed was employed for Swede Johnson at Worner Rumbler, during college.  They moved to Hunter ND for one year and returned to work for Krause Motors for a few years and Peter J Schweitzer in Breckenridge from 1964 -1974.  They owned and operated Ed’s Mobil from 1974 -1979.  Ed began teaching at NDSSS in January of 1980 in the Diesel Program, replacing Swede Johnson.  Ed continued his employment at NDSCS in Diesel and Related Studies until his retirement in 1997.  

Ed & Marlene have four boys.  William (Bill) Straus started taking classes at NDSSS during his junior year of high school.  He is a 1978 NDSSS graduate of the Automotive Technology program.   Bill is married to Laurie who owns and operates Wahpeton Drug.  She is a NDSCS adjunct faculty member for Pharmacy Technician and teaches both on campus and on-line.  Bill currently is an investigator for the Wahpeton Police Department. Their two daughters Lacey and Lauren have both taken classes at NDSCS.

Wayne Straus graduated in 1981 from the Electrical Technology program.  Wayne was able to start working for North American Coal Freedom Mine in Beulah ND as an electrician during his last semester at NDSCS.  Wayne is still employed at North American Coal and is married to Carol. His son Joe graduated from NDSCS in May of 2002, in business management, Joe currently works at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Fargo as a home mortgage consultant.

Warren Straus lives in Wahpeton and enjoys spending time helping his father and attending events in the community.  You’ll see Warren biking just about everywhere he goes in the community.

Wally Straus graduated in 1986 in Auto Body and in 1991 with a Liberal Arts Degree.  Wally and his wife Brenda a 2005 graduate in the LPN program currently live in Phoenix, AZ.  Wally and Brenda were employed at NDSCS from 2002 -2007, Wally as Physical Plant boiler operator and Hall Director for McMahon Hall and Brenda in Human Resources and Student Health Services.  Wally currently works in the Roosevelt School District and Brenda is an RN II with Arizona Department of Corrections in Phoenix.

The Alumni/Foundation office would like to congratulate the Straus family on being supporters of the North Dakota State College of Science.  Continued Family tradition like the Straus family is important to the future of NDSCS.