Darrel LeRoy Graven was born August 18, 1924, in Lac Qui Parle County the son of Gilbert and Gladys (Perkins) Graven. He was baptized at his parental home in rural Dawson and confirmed at Jevnaker Lutheran Church in rural Montevideo. He attended Hamlin Consolidated School. Darrel entered the US Navy in March of 1945 and was honorably discharged in July of 1946. Darrel was united in marriage with Gloria Quenemoen on August 28, 1949, at Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church in rural Dawson. To this union three children were born: Dean, DeAnn, and Dwight. They farmed in rural Benson for 10 years and in Lac Qui Parle County until his semi-retirement in 1984. He remained involved in farming for the rest of his life. He will always be remembered for his love of the land taking second place only to his love for his family.
Darrel died suddenly on Monday, April 19, 1999, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 74 years, 8 months, and 1 day.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his children: Dean Graven and his wife Darlene of Mason City, IA, DeAnn Lund and her husband Jon of Dawson, MN, and Dwight Graven and his wife Cheryl of Marshall, MN; eight grandchildren: Kelli Graven, Kyle Graven, Alissa Graven, Camille Graven, Shawn Graven, Kevin Graven, Adam Lund, and Keith Graven; one great-grandson, Chanse Graven; and three sisters: Lavonne Dahl of Ripon, WI, Deloris Barrett of Dawson, MN, and Bea Ritland of the Madison Lutheran Home in Madison, MN; other family and friends.
Preceding him in death were his father, Gilbert Graven; his mother, Gladys Graven Barrett; and his step-father, Clinton Barrett.