Donelle C. Graven, 91, Bismarck, ND, passed away April 25, 2018 at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. A rosary and prayer services will be held at 7:00 pm on Friday, April 27, 2018 at Williams-Lisko Funeral Home. A Mass for Christian Burial will be held at the Basilica of St. James at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to have dinner at the church immediately following the burial.
Donelle was born September 26, 1926 to Clyde and Octavia (Thome) Hubbard in New Rockford, ND. She and her family moved to Jamestown in 1937 where she completed her education. Donelle married Thomas Graven on November 14, 1946 in Jamestown where they raised their 5 children and ran their registered angus and small grain farms with Tommy’s brother Gerald and family. After retiring from farming, Donelle joined Tommy at the KC Club in Jamestown where she had many duties ranging from buttering buns to calling Bingo. She had a very short commute to work since she lived in the Graven house directly across the street. Donelle continued to work at the KC Club well into her 70s until her retirement. Donelle moved to Bismarck in 2003, where she lived until her death.
Donelle was active in the Church, serving as a money counter and secretary of the Our Lady of Lourdes Circle. She was a member of the original group of “Church Basement Ladies” as she served many meals in the Parish Center of St. James. She also had a very short commute to the church since she lived right across the street! She always made sure that her kids attended Mass EVERY Sunday and the boys served Mass until they were old enough to become ushers.
Donelle enjoyed getting her hair done every week for her entire adult life right up until her last weeks. Friday afternoon was her hair time and often joked that there would always be money to get her hair done. She enjoyed hosting coffee parties for her lady friends and always had the coffee pot on for those who might drop by the house. Donelle had THE best recipe for banana bread and could cut a pie crust free hand in a perfect circle. She always had baked goods in her freezer. She enjoyed sewing and knitting. Donelle also loved music. She was a wedding singer and sang in the church choir for decades. She also played the piano and enjoyed dancing. Donelle also enjoyed traveling with the Angus Tour and other events and can still be heard saying, “take those manure boots off on the porch!”
Donelle is survived by her children, Rick, Detroit Lakes, MN, Dan (Laura), St. Cloud, MN, Joan (Brian) Backes, Menoken, ND; her brother, Gordon, Breckenridge, MO; her grandchildren, Stephanie (Toby) Differding, Horace, ND, Chris (Curt) Kinzler, Jamestown, ND, Angie Anderson, Minot, Kevin (Jessica), Williston, ND; her great-grandchildren Hailee, Hannah and Callee Differding, Tyrell and Tia Anderson, Corbin and Amara Graven, Patrick Kinzler, Corbin Graven, her sister-in-law, Mary Tscharner as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donelle is preceded in death by her husband Tommy, her sons, Stephen and Timothy Graven, her parents, Clyde and Octavia, her grandson Steven Graven; her brother DeLair and his wife Mary.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice. Donelle’s family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for the incredible care that Donelle received in the past 6 years.
Williams Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.