Fern E. Grondahl

Fern Grondahl, Fargo, ND, passed away peacefully July 23, 2012, at the age of 100 in Villa Maria Nursing Home under Hospice care.

Fern Elaine Miller was born March 27th, 1912, in Scott, Saskatchewan, Canada to Roy and Nel (Ackerman) Miller. She had one younger sister, Rae.

At the age of seven, she and her family moved to Grand Forks, ND where her parents were born and raised. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Inkster, ND where she lived and graduated from high school. In 1932 her family moved to Fargo, ND, where she spent the remainder of her life.

She married Arnold O. Grondahl, June 20, 1937. She worked with him in his family-owned business, Grondahl Fairway Market, until he was called into the army in February of 1942. Returning to Fargo after the war, she worked in retail sales for Sears and then for Buttrey’s Ladies Ready to Wear. She also worked with Arnold in other various business ventures. In 1954 he entered into the hearing aid sales field purchasing the Fargo Hearing Aid Center, Inc. She worked with him in the business serving the hard of hearing until his passing in June of 1965. She then continued on in the business with the help of her son, Brad, while he attended NDSU. Brad eventually purchased the business from her and she then continued working with him until retiring in 1986.

Fern was very active in the original organizing of the North Dakota Hearing Aid Dealers Association, and the eventual passing of the State Licensing Law for Hearing Aid Dispensers in 1969. She was a member of Altrusa, a national women’s service club. She served on the Fargo Senior Commission Board for six years and was also a member of the Riverview Place Auxiliary for a number of years. She was an active member of Olivet Lutheran Church for over fifty years, remaining a part of the churches circle activities until the past few years as transportation and mobility became more difficult.

She thoroughly loved being with people, whatever the occasion. She was always upbeat and had a very positive outlook on whatever life presented her. She was loved by everyone she came in contact with as she always had a compliment or positive comment close at hand.

Fern is survived by her son, Brad (Deona) Grondahl, Fargo, ND, grandson, Troy (Amy) Grondahl with great grandchildren, Taite and Emma, Chandler, AZ, grandson, Jeffrey Grondahl, Minneapolis, MN, her daughter Julene Cargill, Minneapolis, MN, two step-grandchildren and six step-great grandchildren, sister-in-law, Jo Grondahl, Fargo, ND, and brother-in-law, Arnold Solberg, Fargo, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sister.

A sincere thank you from her family to the staff at Villa Maria who took such excellent, loving care of her the past few years, along with Hospice of the Red River Valley involved with her care in the final weeks. Memorials are requested to be given to Olivet Lutheran Church, Villa Maria Nursing Home or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

A Celebration of her life will be held at Hanson Runsvold Funeral Home, Tuesday, July 31, at 1:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior. Her final resting place will be in Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND