Almond 1899-1987 and Mabel (Schroeder) Straw1903-1972 moved from the Pipestone area up to the Big Lake and Becker area in the late 1930’s. Almond was a hired hand and the family worked on many area farms.  They had 8 children. Vergel, Caroline (Trigg), Darrel, Bobby, Betty(Gorham-Vartdal), Larry who are now deceased and remaining 2 children, Darwin-Monticello and Sharon(Marsolek) Big Lake.   

In the early 1950’s Almond and Mabel moved the family to a farm owned by S.M. Burnap just East of Becker off Hwy 10 and South on 137th  Street across the road from Albert Danielson. (Both homesteads were  removed in the early 70’s).  The family worked that farm until the late 60’s when Almond and Mabel retired and moved to Big Lake, just South of town on Hwy 25 into an old renovated school house (still standing) that was brought in by Larry Straw in the late  60’s, across the road from the Shank farm, owned by Cressy Shank and her son Ira Shank. Larry and Darwin stayed on the Becker farm and formed “Straw Brothers” and worked the land growing and harvesting potatoes until about 1973.

“About 80 relatives attended the reunion. It was great to see that the whole family was represented. Those attended were from the surrounding Becker – Big Lake area and as far as Browerville, Milaca, Willmar, Pipestone and Hibbing.”