78
Beresford
June 28, 2025
Norman Hensly Gravely was born on April 6, 1947, to R.C. and Mabel (Baker) Gravely in Littlefield, Texas. The family then moved to Armstead, Montana when he was an infant. Norm attended School in a two-room school house until the family moved to Dillon, MT when the town of Armstead was flooded to create the Clark Canyon Reservoir. Norm had a love for dogs from a young age, and the family raised Cocker Spaniels. Norm graduated from Beaverhead High School in 1965. He attended one year of college at University of Montana Western, then he transferred to the University of Northem Colorado where he received his teaching degree to become a band director. His first teaching job brought him to Wagner, SD where he taught the entire band program for six years. He met his wife Theola Ekle in Wagner where she was the vocal director. They were married July 7,1972 at Lands Lutheran Church.
From Wagner, the couple moved to Beresford, SD where Norm became the Junior High Band director as well as helping farm his mother-in-law’s land by Canton, SD. He then worked for the music store in Rock Valley, IA where he called on schools in the area and would also repair instruments there. When the store closed, he went to work at Weatherwax’s, a men’s clothing store in Sioux falls. When that store closed, he worked at Macy’s in the men’s department. After he retired, Norm would work a few hours a week at Casey’s and later at Fiesta Foods.
He took classes at University of South Dakota for counseling with a focus on chemical dependency. He volunteered at Tall Grass counseling individuals struggling with substance abuse for many years. He attended AA meetings in Akron, IA weekly. He had made many good friends there.
Norm and Theola enjoyed traveling and took many bus trips, two river cruises in Europe on the Rhine and Danube, and a family trip to Norway.
He is survived by his wife, Theola; son, Justin (Julia Disburg); daughter, Crissy (Levi) Strong;
grandson, Creed Gravely; nieces and nephew, Diane Weitzman, Dennis (Deb) Thelen, Sandra (Phil) Knudson, and Kim Thelen; his cousin, Elmer Young; and his dogs, Sadie and Sammy. He was preceded in death by his parents, R.C. and Mabel Gravely; his in-laws, Clarence and Inez Ekle; sister and brother-in-law, Colleen and Jerry Thelen; niece, Karen Thelen; his daughter-in-law, Jamie Gravely; and cousins, Al, Kathy, and Carolyn.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025 at Lands Lutheran Church, 47998 292nd St, Hudson, SD 57034 with burial to follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford with a 7 p.m. prayer service.