Dennis Ray Strom, age 76, of Hill City, Idaho, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, September 21, 2026, at Canyons Assisted Living, surrounded by family.

He was born January 29, 1950, in Boise, Idaho, the first of three children born to Keith and Polly (Rice) Strom, and was brought home to the family farm in Hill City during one of the coldest winters on record. He graduated from Camas County High School in 1968.

Farming and Republican politics were Dennis's two great passions. He took over the family farm in Hill City after high school, growing it into a more than 3,000-acre alfalfa hay operation that has been in the Strom family since 1903. A dedicated dryland farmer, his fields often produced 15 to 20 years of hay before ever needing to be rotated. He liked to say, "It's a pretty place to live, but a tough place to make a living."

He served as Camas County's Republican Precinct Committeeman and was active in the Camas County Creek Cooperative Weed Management Area, the Water District No. 37B advisory board, and the Republican State Central Committee. His work on the land earned him the Don Hale Hall of Fame Award from the Idaho Hay & Forage Association and induction into the Idaho Noxious Weed Hall of Fame.

Dennis always had a quiet, offbeat joke ready to go and a belly-rolling laugh that would make you smile. Anyone who met him quickly caught that kind of charisma and charm that just grows on you over time. He was sweet, tough as nails, stubborn, and loved everything about dirt, fertilizer, land management, ignoring traffic laws, Boise State University football, the Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Twins baseball — and making the best of whatever life handed him.

He had a close relationship with his sisters, whom he taught to play baseball, drive cars, and go hooky bobbing. Summers were spent together at the Anderson Reservoir, where their mother taught all three of them to swim and water ski.

He adored his dogs and grandkids alike — his counters were always covered in M&M's and treats for his furry friends. If you stopped by, you'd probably find bacon, coffee, and a block of cheese nearby. His fridge doors were filled with family memories and reminders — some work-related, others life advice. He loved the prairie and understood how unrelenting this place was. It takes a certain kind of resilience to get used to -40-degree winters and scorching summer heat.

Dennis was a father five times over, a role he wore proudly all his life. His children are Carol Strom (1975), Brian Strom (1976), Sarah Mead (1984), Brycen Strom (1986), and Carlie Strom (1996).

In 2000, Dennis welcomed his first grandson, Logan Strom, and the two forged a tight bond from the start — farming, hunting, and causing a little trouble around the prairie together, often alongside Logan's father, Brian.

His grandson Colton soon followed, along with his granddaughters Addalynn and Ruby, and grandson Hudson. Papa gave tractor rides, his legs moving up and down like the wheels on the bus as he sang "bu bump, bu bump," and candy seemed to flow freely.

Dennis spent his final two years at Canyons Assisted Living in Twin Falls. Though he was always happiest on the farm, his family is deeply grateful for the comfort and care he received there. He passed peacefully after a short illness, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Dennis loved animals and always kept a dog treat in his pocket, a beer in his hand, and a love for life, family, and farming that was unmatched. Outside of the farm, he enjoyed skiing at Soldier Mountain, hunting, and riding snowmobiles.

He is survived by his daughters, Carol Strom of Las Vegas, Nevada; Sarah Mead of Pocatello, Idaho; and Carlie Strom of Boise, Idaho; his son Brycen (Sarah) Strom of Hill City, Idaho; his sisters, Phyllis (Brad) Bierlink of Quincy, Washington, and Amy (Tim) Kaser of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and his grandchildren, Logan Strom of Meridian, Idaho, Colton Strom of Las Vegas, Nevada, Addalynn Anderson of Pocatello, Idaho, Hudson Sherrill-Parent of Hill City, Idaho, and Ruby Sherrill-Parent of Hill City, Idaho; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brian Strom (2014), and his parents, Keith and Polly Strom.

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 10, at Camas County High School, in Fairfield, Idaho, followed by a toast to Dennis at the American Legion Hall in Fairfield. Graveside services will follow for immediate family and close friends at the Hill City Cemetery.