Carmen T. Gravning

Carmen Thomas Gravning peacefully left his earthly body and entered heaven on Tuesday morning, February 18, 2025. While we will miss him immensely, we are so thankful to know he is in the presence of the Lord for eternity because he trusted in Christ’s finished work alone on the cross. 

A family directed Memorial Service is pending for spring 2025 in Hettinger, North Dakota. 

Carmen was born October 5, 1938, in rural Adams County, North Dakota, near Hettinger. He was the first child of Melvin and Thelma (Reyerson) Gravning. Carmen spent his childhood being a cowboy riding his horses, Misty and Paint, across the high plains with his brother, Terry, and cousins, Ted and Maurice Olstad, who were like brothers. Part of his childhood home consisted of the original sod house on the land homesteaded by his grandparents who were first-generation immigrants from Norway. This Norwegian influence was woven through much of Carmen’s life. His growing-up years included a rich tapestry of aunts, uncles, and many cousins whom he dearly loved. Throughout his life, Carmen would continue to refer to western North Dakota as “God’s Country” and loved returning for visits. 

Carmen’s education started in a one-room schoolhouse near his home. He later moved into Hettinger to live during the week with his aunt and uncle and to attend high school, graduating in 1956. He started his college education at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, moving to Dickinson State University and then graduating from North Dakota State University with a degree in Animal Husbandry. In the summer of 1962, while at a dance in Detroit Lakes, Carmen spotted a beautiful young lady sitting at a table across the room and asked her to dance. This dance would lead to marriage with Shirley Ann Rund from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on October 26, 1963; a union that would last for 61 wonderful years. 

In April of 1964, Carmen and Shirley moved to Grand Forks where Carmen accepted a job at Pillsbury. Carmen continued his education pursuing a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University, completing his degree in 1967. In 1976, he started with International Co-op which was then acquired by the JR Simplot Company in 1981. Carmen served as the Raw Procurement Manager (potato buyer) until his retirement in 2003. He developed wonderful lifelong relationships with his colleagues and many potato farmers in the Red River Valley. In 2002, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association. 

Over the years Carmen and Shirley added three daughters to their family, Michelle, Tamara, and Kimberly. In 1977, they purchased land west of Grand Forks and built their family home. This location allowed them to start their adventure of raising miniature horses and donkeys, miniature Hereford cattle, pygmy goats, and other critters. Their farm became known as Gravning’s Mini Acres.

Carmen and Shirley were members of Calvary Lutheran Church for many years and currently attend Hope Church in Grand Forks. Carmen was an active member of Gideons International, American Miniature Horse Association, Miniature Hereford Breeders Association, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Grand Forks Elks Lodge, and Shirts and Skirts Square Dancing Club.

His favorite pastimes included attending auctions, traveling, and anything horse related. Carmen loved to travel the backroads of North Dakota when checking potato fields and enjoyed seeing what was around the next turn. Later he enjoyed traveling to his daughters’ homes for the holidays or his grandkids’ events. One very memorable adventure was to the Boundary Waters for a canoe trip with his three daughters following retirement-uff da! 

Carmen impressed upon his daughters the value of honesty and integrity and always doing what you say you will do. He often shared words of wisdom including: “Don’t take any wooden nickels”, “If that is the worst thing that happens to you, you will be fine”, “It’s better for you to make the decision or decisions will be made for you”, and “Did you check your oil?”.

Carmen is survived by his wife, Shirley of Grand Forks; daughters, Michelle (Al) Swanson of Beach, ND, Tamara (Bob) Rick of Browerville, MN, and Kimberly (Greg) Satrom of Page, ND; grandchildren, Gage Swanson, Trey Swanson, Jenna (Nathan) Kromann, Jesse Rick, Elijah (Morgan) Rick, Quinn (Julie) Rick, Annika (Charley) Young, Greta (Noah) Boelter; Hannah, Aksel, and Liv Satrom; 12 great-grandchildren; brother-in law, Stanley (Bev) Rund, and sister-in law, Jeanette Nelson. 

He was preceded in his death by his parents, Melvin and Thelma; brother, Terry Gravning; grandson, Sawyer Swanson; sister-in-law, Myrna; father and mother-in-law, Thomas and Clarice Rund; brother-in-law, Carl Nelson.