Wayne Adams Stroup, 98, Garrison, N.D. died Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the Garrison Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 Friday, September 25 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church located at 623 5th Ave. NE Garrison, ND 58540, with Rev. Dick Hendrickson officiating. Burial will be at the Garrison City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from noon to 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Wayne was born in Zap, North Dakota on Nov. 17, 1916 to Robert M. and Margaret (Adams) Stroup. His family later moved to Hazen, where Wayne graduated from Hazen High School in 1934. He attended Dickinson State College, graduating in 1938 with degrees in Math and Science. Wayne taught school in Medora, ND, Broadus, MT and Dodge, ND. He loved teaching and used the skills he developed as a teacher throughout his life.

When World War II broke out, Wayne joined the Army Air Corps and was attached to the 319th Bomber Group, stationed in North Africa. He was later assigned to an airbase in southern Italy where he won a purple heart when his bomber crew survived after landing their flaming plane on the beach. The war was a cornerstone of Wayne's life, and he had a lifetime interest in history books that told the stories of WWII.

When Wayne got back to Hazen he went to work in the Union State Bank with his father and his brother, George. In 1948 Wayne met Bernice Lyla Theige who moved to Hazen to become the Head Nurse at the Hazen Hospital. They were married on January 29, 1949, and in 1951 their son, Jan Adams Stroup was born. In 1956 Wayne was hired as the president of the Garrison State Bank in Garrison.

The owner of the Garrison State Bank sold his bank to Wayne and subsequently the Washburn bank, Farmers Security Bank as well. In 1965 Wayne started The Bank of Turtle Lake. Wayne was engaged with the three banks until the end of his life.

Wayne, along with Bernice, was active in many civic activities in Garrison and had a passion for his community.

Wayne was blessed with a curious mind and was an avid reader throughout his life. He had many interests and hobbies including scuba diving, travel, hunting, gardening and was an avid rock hound. Wayne had a well equipped rock shop and made beautiful artistic pieces that many friends and relatives enjoyed through the years.

In 1995 their son, Jan was married to Mary Jean Korsmo and in 1997, Wayne and Bernice became the grandparents of Sam.
In 2005 Bernice passed away. In 2010 a bad fall put Wayne in The Benedictine Living Center in Garrison which has been his home since then. He was very comfortable there and grateful for the kind care and treatment he got.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Margaret Stroup, and his brothers, George (Enid), and Robert (Lilian and Vi) Stroup and wife Bernice. He is survived by his sister Jean Leet (Jim) Connecticut, son, Jan (Mary Jean) Minneapolis, grandson, Samuel and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that you make a contribution to Camp of the Cross, SACA (Sakakawea Area Council of the Arts), or Dollars For Scholars in Garrison, Washburn or Turtle Lake.