Available 24/7, 365 Days a Year If you have immediate need of our services, please call us at (405) 372-5550
Our Story
Our Family Serving Your Family
One of Oklahoma’s first funeral homes, Strode has been serving families in Stillwater and the surrounding area since 1889.
The story of Strode Funeral Home and Cremation began in April of 1889 when Mr. Elwood Oliver Stevenson came to the newly-formed town of Stillwater from Arkansas City, Kansas and opened a furniture business that also provided undertaking services and burial goods.
In 1902 Leonard M. Dolde and Henry M. Hand purchased the business from Mr. Stevenson, who after a divorce moved to Vinta, Oklahoma. Dolde and Hand operated the Stillwater Furniture Company until 1905, when Jake Katz, founder of Katz Department Store, partnered with James McTaggert to acquire the business, which was then known as Katz-McTaggert.
In 1906, Jake Katz sold his interest in the furniture and undertaking business to McTaggert and his new partner, C.E. Hull. McTaggert and Hull served the Stillwater area until 1914, when Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. Strode came to Stillwater from Claremore, Oklahoma and acquired all interest in the Stillwater Furniture and Undertaking Company. The business was thereafter known as Strode Furniture and Undertaking and was located downtown at 711 S. Main St.
Mr. Strode died tragically in 1917, becoming Payne County’s first automobile fatality. Mrs. Ruth Strode then operated the business by herself, becoming one of the first female funeral directors in Oklahoma.
In 1925, the funeral home was moved from its location on Main Street to its present location at 610 S. Duncan where St. Andrews Episcopal Church had previously been was located. The rectory from the church remained on the property and was incorporated into the new funeral home.
Mr. W. F. "Bill" Bernhardt Sr. came to Stillwater in 1930 from the Hahn Funeral Home in Oklahoma City to work for Ruth Strode after having graduated in 1928 from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Texas. The Bernhardt's acquired an interest in the the funeral home in 1935, and became sole owners in 1943. Mrs. Strode died in 1946.
Bill Bernhardt Jr. began working with his father in 1954 after completing his degrees at Oklahoma State University and the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. In 1959 Bill Bernhardt Jr. acquired the funeral home from his father.
Bill Bernhardt Jr. owned the funeral home until 2005 when, rather than selling to out-of-state corporate interests, he transferred ownership to longtime employees who continue to carry on the tradition of "Our Family Serving Your Family.” Bill continues his association with the funeral home to this day, and is available to help any of his many friends in Stillwater whenever requested.
Strode Funeral Home and Cremation proudly remains 100% family owned and operated, and with Strode, it truly is "Our Family Serving Your Family".
Strode's Guarantee
Our Promise to You
At Strode Funeral Home, we're committed to providing the most personal, professional care and will do whatever it takes to make every part of your experience with us as meaningful as possible.
Should we ever fail to meet your expections, all we ask is for you to bring your concerns to our attention so we can make things right. If for some reason we cannot correct a mistake or do not meet your expectations, we will gladly refund any charges related to your concern.
Our Price Guarantee
As a family-owned and operated funeral home, we're dedicated to providing the highest quality service at the most reasonable price. Should you find comparable funeral or cremation services at another Stillwater funeral home at a lower cost, we will refund 110% of the difference between the two services. It's our way of insuring the best service at the lowest price. As long as it's a fair comparison, we're happy to make sure you receive the best value for your money.
What Makes Us Unique
- Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor your loved one's memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
- Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
- Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections and assist you in the publication of the obituary in the newspaper(s) of your choice.
- Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
- Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
- Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
- Select beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
- In the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
- Access grief education and support materials, and with referrals to counseling services.
- Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.