Stillwater, Oklahoma - Frank Edward LeGrand, 98, a long-time resident of Stillwater, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 14, 2025, at Stillwater Bible Church, with a reception following. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Ed was born December 18, 1926, in Mayfield, Oklahoma to Frank and Cora LeGrand. He had three siblings, T.G. LeGrand and wife, Juanita, Stella Matlock and husband, Orville, and Yvonne Reed and husband, Mark. Ed graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1944, where he played baseball and was active in 4-H. He continued his education at Sayre Junior College and married his high school sweetheart, Esther Alberta Fourier, on January 14, 1948.

Ed and Alberta shared a passion for education, which led them to relocate from western Oklahoma to Stillwater, where they fell in love with the town and university. He was the first in his family to attend college. Ed earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agronomy from Oklahoma State University in 1959 while working full time in the animal science department. He excelled in college and was awarded a U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare National Defense Education Fellowship in plant sciences. He went on to earn the first doctorate in Agronomy from North Dakota State University in 1963.

Upon returning to Stillwater, Ed accepted a position at OSU as Extension Agronomist and Associate Professor. In 1979, he was named Professor and Director of Oklahoma Pedigreed Seed Services. He also provided leadership and direction to Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks, Inc. and the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association. He held those positions until his retirement in 1994.

Ed and Alberta both grew up in the country and loved ranch life. Raising registered Gelbvieh cattle on their farm. They received the Oklahoma Governor's Conservation Award in both 2001 and 2011 and were named Payne County Farm Family of the Year in 2016. Ed was also an avid fisherman and arrowhead hunter, spending many happy hours along the banks of Cricket Creek near Table Rock Lake.

For their 25th anniversary, Ed surprised Alberta with a trip to Hawaii, a destination they loved so much they returned to celebrate their 50th. Upon his retirement, they marked the occasion with a family cruise to Alaska and a scenic train journey from the west coast to Fairbanks.

Ed is preceded in death by his wife, Alberta; daughter, Cora Ann LeGrand Ph.D.; and son-in-law, Mark Honska, M.D.

Ed was a devoted and loving husband to Alberta and an amazing, compassionate father to their five children. He is survived by his children, Alan LeGrand and his wife, Carolyn; Alane LeGrand Ph.D.; Susan LeGrand Honska M.B.A., retired C.P.A.; Karen Castonguay M.S. and her husband Perry; grandchildren, Tyler Castonguay, Bryce Castonguay and his wife Chelsea Castonguay J.D. and Kylie Gross M.S.N.A. and her husband Colin Gross M.B.A. along with seven great-grandchildren, Chisholm, Quinn, Callahan and Cadence Castonguay and Elizabeth, Emory and Coleman Gross.

A Loyal and True Cowboy, Ed cherished Oklahoma State University and enthusiastically supported its teams and traditions. His legacy of Orange Pride lives on! Ed was proud of Alberta, and of all their children and grandchildren, who graduated from OSU.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to the OSU Foundation in support of an Agronomy Department Scholarship in Ed LeGrand's memory.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by

visiting www.strodefh.com.