Back: JoAnn, Dick, Jim, Carol
Front: Roy, Virginia

Roy and Virginia were married November 27, 1954, at St. Joesph Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. Roy was born March 1, 1924, at home on the farm, 2 miles south of Manning, Iowa. Dr. Amos Carlile was in attendance. Virginia was born January 21, 1933, in Le Mars, Iowa and moved to Carroll, Iowa, when in the 5th grade. Roy was the youngest of five children born to George H. and Minnie Struve. His four sisters were Leona, Gladys, Ruby and Ruth. Virginia was the middle of eleven born to Ray and Elizabeth Lafferty: Eleanor, Jeanne, Sylvia, Clayton, Kendall, Nancy, Judy, Linda and two sisters who died in infancy.

Roy started high school in 1937, the same year Vocational Ag was introduced to Manning High School and that was the education that molded his life. Roy purchased a purebred Hampshire bred gilt in 1938 and spent the next 48 years in the breeding stock business. Roy was a pioneer in the boar testing station at Ames and also put the first sow through Dr. Merrick's SPF lab in Manilla. He continued in the Accredited SPF hog business for many years and sold breeding stock across the USA and foreign countries. Roy also helped organize the National Accredited Specific Pathogen Free Swine Association. After high school, Roy worked for his father, George H. Struve and maintained his purebred herd of hogs. George rented from Mrs. Sievers Koenig from 1917 until 1946 when she wanted to sell the farm. Roy and his father together purchased the farm, where Roy was raised. In 1946 and 1947, Roy served in the US Army in Korea. When he returned home, Roy started farming on his own and lived with his parents on the farm. In 1953, George passed away at the Carroll hospital due to a heart condition. It was during this time that Roy met Virginia as she worked as a registered nurse at Saint Anthony's Hospital in Carroll. In 1954, they were married.

The Struves are the parents of four children. James Allen "Jim" was born in 1955. He is part owner of Terrus Real Estate Group in Des Moines, Iowa. Carol Jean, born in 1957 married Douglas Harry Musfeldt in 1979. They live in Kansas City, Missouri. Their children are Benjamin, Abagail and Halle. Carol works in the library at her children's school. Jo Ann Francis born in 1958 and married Douglas Eugene Hanselman in 1982. They are the parents of Sarah, Samuel, Nathan and Matthew. Jo Ann teaches Special Education in Ankeny, Iowa, where they live. Dick was born in 1959. He married Diane Renee Null in 1991. They live in Gilbert, Iowa and Dick works for US Filter Control Systems in Ames, Iowa.

In 1948 Roy was chairman of the Farm Fire Truck committee that purchased a fire truck for the rural area use. His father George was a member of the first farm fire truck committee. Roy also was a 4-H leader, served on the Farmers Home Administration board, Soil Conservation board, helped organized the Carroll County Pork Producers and served on that board and on the school board.

Roy and Virginia are both life time members of the VFW and the American Legion and their Auxiliaries. Virginia is highly involved in volunteering at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning and in the Manning community.