Morris  Gran

CLERGY
Pastor Dan Flyger
MUSIC
Pianist ~ Pat Asche
“It Is Well With My Soul” ~ #321
“What a Day That Will Be” ~ #470
“Mansion Over the Hilltop” ~ #471
“Victory in Jesus” ~ #526
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Nephews & Nieces of Morris & Fern Gran
PALLBEARERS
Caleb Dean
Derek Marn
Jed Hicks
Benjamin Baxa
Ryan Swanstrom
Bryan Bork
Brandon Green
Morris Gran was born on Saturday, November 22, 1919 on a farm six miles east of Scotland. He was the youngest of eleven children born to Anton and Hannah (Larson) Gran. He was baptized and confirmed in the Norway Church near Scotland. The Gran family later moved to a farm near Menno, where he attended country school through the 8th grade. When Morris had barely begun high school, his father suddenly passed away. Morris and his brothers struggled for a few years to keep the farm going, but later moved their mother into Menno and supported her and themselves with the carpentry they had learned from their father. He was inducted into the Army in March of 1942, during World War II. Morris and Fern had dated briefly before his military service, and got to know each other better during his furloughs and through his many letters. Morris was united in marriage to Fern Ellinger on May 20, 1944 in Elgin, Texas. During Morris’ deployments to Hawaii and the Philippines, Fern returned home and lived with her parents in Scotland. Returning home after nearly four years in the service, he and Fern farmed five miles south of Scotland. Morris was a gifted carpenter as well as a talented artist, producing a large variety of oil paintings over the years. In his later years, Morris made and sold hundreds of pop-can twirlers, donating the money to mission work. In 1978, Morris became a member of Gideon International and Fern joined the Gideon International Auxiliary, where they were both devoted to the spreading of the Word of the Lord. He was a kind and thoughtful man who faced life’s challenges with prayer, courage, and laughter. Morris was always active in the church he attended and his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was the most precious thing to him. He passed away at the Good Samaritan Society, Sioux Falls Center on Friday, January 21, 2011, having attained the age of 91 years, 1 month and 30 days.
Morris’ memory will be cherished by his wife of over 66 years, Fern Gran of Sioux Falls; three children: daughter Judy (Steve) Marn of Aurora, Minnesota, son William (Brenda) Gran of Sioux Falls, and daughter Nancy (Tim) Dean of Redwood Falls, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: Derek Marn, Tracey Marn, Jennifer (Jed) Hicks, Stephanie (Ben) Baxa, Emily (Ryan) Swanstrom, Heather (Bryan) Bork, Caleb Dean and Hannah Dean; eight great-grandchildren: Taylor Marn, Taetum and Bridger Baxa, Ainsley, Porter, Trey and Ryker Swanstrom, and Kyla Bork; two sisters-in-law, Olive Gran of Scotland and Evelyn (Carl) Petersen of Oregon; and brother-in-law Cecil (Eldora) Ellinger of Scotland.
In addition to his parents, Anton and Hannah Gran, Morris was preceded in death by six brothers: Casper, Albert, Hjalmer, Edward, Lawrence, and Alvin; and four sisters: Jeanette, Mabel, Alice, and Emma.