John Alvin Gran (1916 - 1991)

Born 2 Sep 1916 in Menno, Hutchinson, South Dakota, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Evelyn Laura (Fund) Petersen — married 21 Feb 1944 in Seattle, King, Washington, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Jun 1991 at age 74 in Newberg, Yamhill, Oregon, United States

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Biography

Alvin John Gran was born “John Alvin”, 2 September 1916^[1][2] down by the James “Jim” River, Lesterville, South Dakota. He was the 9th of 11 children of Anton and Hannah Gran.^[3] He was called “Alvin” as there were so many named “John” in the larger family and it was never changed back. He always went by “Alvin John” from that time on. Al’s early years were spent on the farm near Menno, South Dakota where he attended one room school houses and completed the 8th grade. Life was very difficult during the depression. Along with his father, Al tried to help run the farm with some of the other brothers. In December of 1934, his father suddenly passed away when Al was 18. The boys continued to help run the farm, but the family’s financial plight forced him to find work in construction to help his mother out. He worked for many places, finally settling at Boeing where he worked for a total of 37 years.

In late 1943, while living at a boarding house in Seattle he met a lovely young lady who caught his eye who had just moved to the same boarding house. They had a “whirlwind courtship” and four months later on 21 February 1944, they were married. Although it was a short courtship, their marriage was long-lived of 47 years.

Al and Evelyn eventually had three children, Gale, Douglas and Marilyn.^[3]

Memories from childhood

Even though life started through difficult years, the Gran boys always had time for fun, mischievous moments and joking. For example, there was the Halloween when he helped tip over an outhouse, and the time when he was riding in the car with one of his brothers and suddenly spotted one of the wheels rolling down the road ahead of them.

Among the special memories from his family were many camping trips they took together… including the time their tent blew down in the middle of the night at Lake Osoyoos in South Central British Columbia; making lefse and then cooking it on the wood stove in the basement and then eating it; and many trips to attend family reunions. Al loved to tease, and on one of those trips to South Dakota, every time one of the kids misbehaved, he’d threaten to give them to the Indians (as we drove through many Indian Reservations). It apparently wasn’t enough, however, to keep Doug in check. So as they drove into Deer Lodge, Montana, Al drove up to the gates to the Montana State Prison and ordered Doug out! That did it…the rest of the trip went much smoother!

The kids were especially proud of their father on the first and only time he tried to water ski. Not only did he get up, he skied clear around the lake, letting go of the rope at just the right moment to slide into shore... where he landed without getting wet! He didn’t swim, so this was a good thing!

When Alvin retired from Boeing, he was well respected by his fellow workers for his hard work, common sense and they loved his ability to tease. He was presented at this time with a Norwegian Chain Saw… a hacksaw with a chain stretched across where the blade usually goes, and a spark plug embedded in the handle!

At the age of 51, Al had a bout with peritonitis that nearly cost him his life. Three surgeries later he came home from the hospital to meet his granddaughter, Christina, who was born during his third hospitalization. That was a very special moment for Al…marking the beginning of a full recovery. By the way, except for the 3 months off for surgery, Al had a perfect work attendance record with the Boeing Company.

Though Al grew up in the Lutheran Church and had been confirmed in 1930 as a boy, it was at the time that his first child, Gale, was born, that Al became a Christian. It was at a church service in Yakima, Washington. From that day on, Al lived the life of a committed Christian…walking close to God and reading his Bible regularly. Though he had been baptized as a baby, he began to have a growing desire to be baptized as an adult by immersion, professing his faith in God. That desire was fulfilled, just a few months before he entered heaven’s gates, and was one of the happiest times of his life.

Al passed away very suddenly on Friday morning, 7 June 1991^[4], at 7:02am at the Newberg Community Hospital, where he was treated for an unexpected heart arrest which had occurred two days earlier. He was 74 years, 9 months and 5 days old. He left his dear wife of 47 years, 3 children, 6 grandchildren and one grandson who preceded him in death. He was buried at Washington Memorial Park in Seattle, Washington.^[1] Memorial gifts were given to buy many Bibles for Russia.

He is remembered for his hard work ethic, faithfulness to God and his family, and quite a tease.^[5]

(Much of this account was written by Alvin’s daughter, Marilyn.)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 December 2018), memorial page for John Alvin “Al” Gran (2 Sep 1916–10 Jun 1991), Find A Grave: Memorial #59927039, citing Washington Memorial Park, SeaTac, King County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by DMM (contributor 47228453).
2. ↑ "Montana, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLN-3R4G : Sat Mar 09 23:59:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Alvin John Gran and Gust Bonander, 16 October 1940.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/L6PX-2CQ/details?spouse=LX2M-F93 (accessed April 9, 2020)
4. ↑ "Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZW5-NMR : 11 December 2014), Alvin John Gran, 07 Jun 1991; from "Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2000); citing Yamhill, Oregon, certificate number 91-11555, Oregon State Archives and Records Center, Salem.
5. ↑ Howard-Fund Family Tree https://howardfund.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?view=0&rand=919561271&pid=40&userid=howardfund (accessed April 10, 2020)

Census Records

• "South Dakota State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMWB-RV8 : 8 April 2020), Alvin Gran; citing 147, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,368,437.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQVH-MXR : accessed 15 April 2020), Alvin J Gran in household of Anton Gran, Sweet, Hutchinson, South Dakota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 24, sheet 3A, line 1, family 38, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2225; FHL microfilm 2,341,959.
• "South Dakota State Census, 1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV41-DC9 : 3 April 2020), Alvin Gran, Sweet, Hutchinson, South Dakota; citing p. 198, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,369,686.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBQZ-Q32 : 24 December 2019), Alvin J Gran in household of Edward M Gran, Forsyth, School District 4 Forsyth, Rosebud, Montana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 44-5, sheet 10B, line 80, family 243, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2228.