Evan Joseph Granrud

Evan Joseph Granrud, 85, passed away on Friday, April 4, 2014, due to natural causes.

A celebration of Evan's life was on April 8, at Bell Tower Funeral Home in Post Falls, Idaho, with Pastor David Ophus officiating. A memorial service at Opheim Lutheran Church with interment at Opheim Cemetery will be 1 p.m. May 17.

He was born in Portal, N.D., on Dec. 25, 1928, to Elmer and Clara (Lee) Granrud. He was the oldest of six children and attended school in Portal.

He married Muriel Nygaard on Sept. 25, 1946, and they had two daughters, Julie and Sandra.

He worked as a Soo Line locomotive attendant in Portal until 1951, when he moved his family to Glentana to operate a grain elevator. Later he and Myrt managed Evan's Bar and Grill and played in a country western band called The Montana Plainsmen.

In 1954, he took a job as site engineer at the Opheim Radar Base and the family moved to a house just south of Opheim. When the Radar Site closed in 1979, he retired from his civil service job and helped Myrt and Arlene Larson launch The Lefse Shack. Using Myrt's family recipe for the Scandinavian treat, along with Evan's inventions for rolling and cooling the product, and a crew of local ladies, the Granruds ran the successful business for 18 years until they sold it to the Northern Electric Co-op in 1996.

They moved to Opheim to enjoy some leisure time. In 2006 they moved to Nemont Manor in Glasgow. In 2010 they moved to Guardian Angel Care Center in Post Falls to be closer to their daughters.

He was ambitious and talented. He worked a main job but always did side jobs with Myrt as his helper: remodeling kitchens with custom Formica work, painting barn roofs, swathing, raising chickens, managing a bowling alley, or installing satellite dishes. He gave of his time and talents to his community as well: Kiwanis, Community Club, City Council, Lutheran Church Board and Senior Citizens.

He helped build the Rodeo Grounds and worked the Opheim Rodeo for years. He was part of the crew that built the Lutheran Church annex and new parsonage. He was honored to be selected Lt. Governor of Montana Kiwanis in 1965, Radar Site Engineer of the Year in 1973, Opheim Senior Citizen of the Year and Valley County Senior Citizen in 2001.

He was always happiest working on a project, but in his leisure time he enjoyed carpentry, computers, country music, golfing, gardening, fishing and puttering in his shop. He always put family first. He never missed a reunion, school activity, graduation or wedding. He enjoyed talking and laughing with friends and could tell a great story.

Survivors include his wife, Myrt; two daughters, Julie Davey and her husband, Rich, and Sandra Stellflug; a brother, Oliver Granrud, and his wife, Gen; four sisters, Clarice Sterling, Margaret Johnson and her husband, Ron, Hazel Ostrom, and Mary Lee Kramer and her husband, Wade; grandchildren, Tracy Davey and his wife, Janelle, Blaine Davey and his wife, Nickie, Aaron Davey and his wife, Terra, Kim Stellflug, Kon Stellflug and his wife, Maria, Kari Carbajal and her husband, Jim; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials are suggested to Opheim Lutheran Church or North Idaho Hospice House at 9493 N. Govt. Way, Hayden, ID 83835.

Memories and condolences for the family may be posted at belltowerfuneralhome.com. Cards can be mailed to the family at 200 W Choctaw Ave, Post Falls, ID 83854.