Funeral Service for Mona Gravdal, 92, of New Effington, South Dakota will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church, New Effington, SD with Rev. Harold Watrous officiating. Organist will be Debbie Bredvik with special music by John and Thea Pallansch. Pallbearers will be Eli Nissen, Noah Nissen, Dana Bruyere, and Kimberly Bruyere. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Caring Staff of Rosholt Care Center. Interment will be in the Sisseton Cemetery, Sisseton, SD. There will be visitation on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Cahill Funeral Chapel. There will be visitation one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Saturday. Mona Heath was born on September 21, 1918 in Sisseton, SD to Floyd and Pearl (Toftum) Heath. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She attended grade and high school in Sisseton and graduated in 1937. Mona worked as a cashier at Stavig Bros. Department Store for many years. She was united in marriage to Tilford Gravdal on March 20, 1950 in Sisseton, SD. They lived on a farm in Sisseton Township until 1959 when they purchased a farm in Lien Township near New Effington. They farmed there until 1976 when a farm accident caused them to retire. They continued to live on their farm until September 1999, when they moved into an apartment in New Effington. Tilford passed away on October 16, 2004. Mona continued living in the apartment until July 2009, when she entered the Rosholt Care Center. Mona was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Faith WELCA and quilted with the ladies for many years. Mona passed away on March 28, 2011 at the Rosholt Care Center, Rosholt, SD.
Mona is survived by two daughters, Gayle (Frank) Bruyere of Eau Claire, WI, and Jayne (Ronald) Nissen of New Effington, SD; four grandchildren, Dana Bruyere and Kimberly Bruyere of Eau Claire, WI and Noah Nissen of Lidgerwood, ND and Eli Nissen of New Effington, SD; one great granddaughter, Bailey Bruyere of Eau Claire, WI; and one sister Doris Knutson of Sisseton, SD.
Mona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant daughter, Mavis; one brother, Stanley Heath and one sister Marlys Heath.