Nathan Cory Strei

As the end of summer and cabin season came to a close, so did Nathan’s life here on earth. On September 8th, 2025, Nathan Cory Strei passed from this world into the eternal one.

A lover of the outdoors and his three labs, Nathan lived a life of adventure. If you had the pleasure of knowing him as a boy, you saw the kindness and gentleness he so easily showed to those around him. If you knew him in his youth, you witnessed his wild side as he expressed himself through snowboarding, motorcycling, fishing and hunting. During his college years, he moved to Bozeman, Montana, where his love for the mountains gradually surpassed his academic pursuits. Embracing his adventurous nature, he lived in a teepee with his ever-faithful dog, Lucky, and spent most days exploring the mountains.

His passion for cooking grew as he began working at different restaurants and at a hunting lodge in Montana. In 2000, Nathan moved back to Fargo, North Dakota where he pursued his dream of opening a restaurant—Monte’s Downtown opened October 18, 2002. Working restlessly to earn the title of top restaurant in the area, he received a nomination for the prestigious James Beard award for the mid-west.

In 2012 he moved to the Park Rapids area of Minnesota, returning to his beloved outdoors and a quieter life. Nathan started Headwaters Cabin Care and took pride in serving his clients throughout Minnesota’s lake country. He found adventure in the challenge of felling towering trees in hard-to-reach places, always with his favorite saw in hand. Ice-out predictions, barge driving, and a well-priced rack of lamb were some of his favorite things. Nathan’s smile—his real, true smile—was one of his family’s favorite things. He will be deeply treasured by them.

In the final days of his life, Nathan returned to the faith of his childhood. He opened his heart to Jesus, embracing the hope and redemption that had always been waiting for him. His family takes great comfort in knowing that he is now truly home.

Nathan is preceded in death by his faithful companions Lucky & Mason; his grandfather’s Donald Hauck, Tom Strei and Steve Anton and his grandmothers Cynthia Strei and Bertha Anton.

Nathan will be missed by his dog, Cooper; his parents, Donnie and Mike Strei; Rollin and Thomas Anton; his sisters, Christina (Terry) Parkman and Sarah Anton; his nieces, Avalie and Nova Parkman; his grandmother, Clara Hauck; many aunts, uncles, cousins and close long-time friends.