David Velde

David Velde, of Granite Falls, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025 at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar at the age of 74.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Wang Lutheran Church in rural Maynard with burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Granite Falls.  There will be a time of fellowship at the Granite Falls American Legion directly following the burial.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2025 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Granites Falls with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Arrangements are with Anderson – TeBeest Funeral Home of Granite Falls. www.andersontebeest.com

LaGrant David Velde was born January 31, 1951. He was the third child and only boy of LaGrant and Beatrice (Pederson) Velde. He was baptized and confirmed in the Granite Falls Lutheran Church when it was affiliated with the ALC. David graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1969. He then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. David enlisted in the USMC PLC (Platoon Leaders Course) on August 14, 1970. He graduated from Concordia in July 1973, and was commissioned a 2nd LT., and entered active duty August 26, 1973. David was stationed in numerous places: Quantico, VA, Camp Lejeune, NC, Okinawa, Japan, Vietnam, Republic of the Philippines, Camp Pendleton, CA, Oklahoma City. He resigned a regular commission at MCAS El Toro July 7, 1980, to start farming. David was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW and was very proud of his service. He married Constance McInnis in December 1980 in Mesa, AZ. To this union 4 children were born. They made their home on the family farm in Granite Falls, MN.

On October 18, 2003 David married Kathleen Gustafson at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church. They have enjoyed retirement together wintering in Chandler, AZ and spending time at Lake Mary in the summers. Music was a large part of his life and enjoyed playing piano, was an accompaniment for many choirs in both Granite Falls and Phoenix. His proudest accomplishment was the four children he raised with three of the four living in the Granite Falls area.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen of Granite Falls; children: Jacqueline (Jeffry) Ettesvold of Granite Falls, Megan (Jacob) Braith of Alexandria, VA, Laura (Jacob) Munsterman of Granite Falls and Luke (Erin) Velde of Granite Falls; stepdaughter, Jennifer Guertin of Windom, MN; grandchildren: Decker, Lainey and Elin Ettesvold, Elliott, Isaac and Alice Braith, Adalynn and Savana Munsterman, Kara Velde, Jacob Guertin (fiancée, Sydney Larsen) and Victoria (Tyler) Patterson; great-grandson, Lincoln Patterson; sisters, Connie Hickman and Patricia Pederson, Ph.D.; brother-in-law, Fred Hannum; and several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

David was preceded in death by his parents LaGrant and Beatrice; sister, Muriel Hannum; and brother-in-law, Roger Hickman.