A funeral service for Alden Joseph Grannes, 97, of Belview, will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview beginning at 11:00a.m. Visitation will be held at Sunset Funeral Home, Echo, MN on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 from 5:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. Visitation will continue Thursday at Grace Lutheran beginning at 10:00a.m. A funeral luncheon will be held at Grace Lutheran following the funeral service. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association in Echo is handling the arrangements.
The first of seven, Alden Joseph Grannes was born at home November 10, 1926, to Ole and Inga (Enger) Grannes in Swedes Forest Township, north of Belview Minnesota. He was raised on the family farm and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Alden attended District 10 (where he walked up hill both ways) and graduated from Belview High School in 1944. Following graduation, Alden joined the Merchant Marines and served during WW II. He continued in the Merchant Marines following the end of the war until they went on strike. He returned to Belview and worked various jobs until drafted into the U.S. Army—working as a radar operator during the Korean War. After completing his service, Alden moved to Minneapolis and worked for George A. Clark and Sons. He met his wife, Leona Clement through a blind date arranged by his Uncle Johnnie Enger. Alden and Leona were married on February 11, 1956, and were blessed with three daughters and one son. They raised their family in Columbia Heights until 1968 when they moved to Belview where Alden took over the Mobil Bulk and became business partners with his brother Charles. This partnership continued until retirement. In 1985 Alden and Leona purchased a vacant building in Wood Lake Minnesota and opened Grannes Gas & Grocery. They continued with this business, along with their son Doug, until Leona’s health declined. Alden married Joan (Olson) Renneke on May 18, 1996. The couple resided in Wood Lake. Following Joan’s death in 2004, Alden returned to Belview. In November 2019 he moved to Parkview Assisted Living and in December 2022 to the Parkview Nursing Home. Hobbies included bowling, archery, hunting, taking his kids ice skating, snowmobiling, camping, driving through car lots, horseshoes, ping pong, driving around in search of investment properties, owning the Belview Apartments, baking cookies, playing checkers, cards and Bingo and spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Belview American Legion.
Alden passed away peacefully at the Parkview Nursing Home on December 15, 2023, at the age of 97.
Alden is survived by his children Victoria (Larry) Fruetel, Douglas Grannes, Virginia Barli, Valerie (Jim) Kluver; six grandchildren, Daniel (Kristy) Kluver, Angela (Jason) Giesler, Holly Kluver, Jessica (Colt) Campos, Joseph Barli, Isaac Grannes; nine great grandchildren; siblings Burton (Shirley) Grannes, Muriel Schmidt, Charles (Judy) Grannes, Melvin (Kay) Grannes, sister-in-law Lavon Grannes and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Ole and Inga Grannes; wives Leona Grannes and Joan Grannes; son-in-law Steven Barli; brothers Orland and Gordon Grannes; sister-in-law Pat Grannes; brother-in-law Philip Schmidt; brother and sister-in-law Clayton and Jeane Ekdahl and niece Jody Grannes.
