Funeral services for Thelma Gravning, 99, of Hettinger, ND will be Monday, October 8, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the Richland Lutheran Church, north of Hettinger, ND. Roger Dietterle will officiate and burial will follow at the Richland Cemetery. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger on Sunday, October 7th and one hour prior to the funeral on Monday morning.

THELMA ELVINA GRAVNING was born on March 11, 1908 in Dawson, MN to Tollef and Hannah (Hofseth) Reyerson. They moved to the Hettinger, ND area in 1910. Thelma grew up in a close and loving family with 11 brothers and sisters. She graduated from high school at the age of 16. Thelma worked in Hettinger following high school and then attended Teachers College in Dickinson, ND and later Spearfish Normal School in Spearfish, SD. Thelma's lifelong dream and ambition was to be a teacher. She always loved playing school with her brothers and sisters and Thelma was always the teacher! She taught for over 30 years in rural schools in the area.


Thelma married Melvin Gravning on May 17, 1937 in Hettinger. Together they lived and farmed north Hettinger until retirement. They had two sons, Carmen and Terry. Melvin passed from this life in 1992. Thelma entered the Hillcrest Care Center on November 6, 1995 where she resided until her death on October 2, 2007.


Thelma was a lifelong member of the Richland Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and was involved in many church activities. She loved teaching, gardening, children and her family. One of her greatest pleasures was having large family gatherings. Children were always special to Thelma. She would go to any length to make her grandchildren or any other child happy. Thelma will be greatly missed!

Grateful for having shared in her life are her sons, Carmen (Shirley) Gravning, Grand Forks, ND and Terry (Myrna) Gravning, Hettinger; one sister, Rosina Becker, Salem, OR; five grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Melvin, three brothers and six sisters.