Gena Bratteli

Gena Theolina (Rynestad) Bratteli, age 96, long-time resident of Grand Forks, ND, passed away on March 6, 2012 at 8:45 p.m. at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks. Gena's grandparents were Kettel T. Roinestad and Torbjor (Flateland) Roinestad and Halvor S. Sannes and Guru S. Sannes . They were Norwegian immigrants and early settlers of Grand Forks County in the late 1870's in Walle Township. Gena was the 5th of 8 children born to parents, Thor K. Rynestad and Berget "Betsey" (Sannes) Rynestad, on September 15, 1915 on the family farm homestead in North Township just east of Thief River Falls, MN. She attended school in a one room country schoolhouse, Northfield No. 29 Grade School, near their farm. She was baptized and confirmed at the Silverton Lutheran Church. She moved with her family in 1929 to Rye Township in Grand Forks County, a short distance northwest from Grand Forks. She worked on the family farm for several years before meeting her future husband. Gena met John O. Bratteli at the Orient Dance Pavilion in Grand Forks, in 1937. He was the son of Norwegian immigrants who settled near Grygla, MN. They were married in East Walle Lutheran Church, rural Grand Forks, on June 23, 1940. Gena and John made their home in Grand Forks where he had a career in direct sales and Gena was a homemaker and mother. They had two sons - Truman and Darrell Bratteli. She was an accomplished bowler having won the Grand Forks City Women's Championship and was elected to the Grand Forks Bowling Hall of Fame. Her flower gardens were beautiful with peonies being her specialty. She was a consummate baker of lefse, krumkake, and other Norwegian delicacies as well chocolate chip cookies and her famous doughnuts. Members of Sharon Lutheran termed her the "doughnut lady." She loved to crochet, knit, and embroider. Also, Gena became an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and of UND Fighting Sioux hockey. She is survived by: sons - Truman (Judy) of Grand Forks and Darrell (Marlys) of Fargo, ND; 6 grandchildren - John (Amy) Bratteli of Grand Junction, CO, Jennifer (John) Bailey of Lincoln, NE, Derek (Katrina) Bratteli of Phoenix, AZ, Shiloh (Ross) Cariveau of Rochert, MN, Mitchell and Zachary Bratteli of Fargo; and 9 great-grandchildren - Sarah and Aaron Bratteli of Grand Junction, CO; Alayna and Ashley Bailey of Lincoln, NE; Brodie and Zoe Cariveau of Rochert, MN; Riley Hunt, Cooper and Rafe Bratteli of Phoenix, AZ; many nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Lee Ann (Hal) Bratteli of Longview, TX. Preceding her in death are: husband, John, in 1979; her parents; 4 brothers - Kittel, Halvor, Berto and Fred Rynestad, all from Grand Forks; 3 sisters - Thelma "Timmie" (Rynestad) Wirkus, Agnes "Aggie" Rynestad, and Bernice (Rynestad) Wirkus, all from Grand Forks. Visitation: March 15, 2012, 10 a.m., Sharon Lutheran Church, 1720 S. 20th St., Grand Forks. Funeral: March 15, 2012, 11 a.m., Sharon Lutheran Church, Pastor John Fick officiating. Burial: Memorial Park North Cemetery, Grand Forks, in the spring. Memorials can be made to Sharon Lutheran Church for its music ministry or the charity of your choice.