Obituary: Melvin Schramm

Melvin Schramm

Melvin Schramm, 91, of Carrington, N.D., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Golden Acres Manor in Carrington.

Melvin's visitation was held Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 from 10-11 a.m. followed by a funeral service at Calvary Baptist Church, Carrington, N.D.

His burial took place at the Lakeview Cemetery, Cathay, N.D.

Pastor Keith Hurlbut officiated. Special music was performed by Dalonnes Roemmich, pianist; Lowell Rau, vocalist, sang "My God and I"; and Elaine Enger, vocalist, sang "In The Garden." Congregational hymns were "To God Be The Glory" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Scripture reading was by Austin Bettenhausen.

Honorary bearers were all of Melvin's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Melvin Schramm was born on July 11, 1933, in Woodward Township, rural Cathay, to Elizabeth Kandt Schramm and Adolf Schramm. He was the youngest of six children.

Melvin grew up on the farm and attended the one-room school known as Woodward No. 1 through the seventh grade. His parents retired to Carrington, where Melvin completed the eighth and ninth grades. They then moved to Lodi, Calif., where Melvin graduated from Lodi Union High School in 1951.

After graduation, Melvin helped his brother, Rudy, on the family farm east of Cathay. In 1952, Rudy was drafted into the Army and Melvin operated the farm until his return. For several years they farmed together.

On June 18, 1957, Melvin was joined in marriage to Mary Bradsteen in Cathay Baptist Church. They started their married life together on the farm Melvin had purchased 2 1/2 miles from the farm where Melvin was born.

Melvin and Mary operated a dairy and grain farm, where they raised their eight children. In 1961, they started selling bulk milk, and in 1962 they built a modern dairy barn with a milking parlor and then increased the number of cows from 25 to 85.

They sold the dairy cows in 1981 and then Melvin raised replacement dairy heifers for 11 years to utilize his farmstead. He also fed out feeder pigs and custom-fed stock cows.

Melvin and Mary moved to Carrington in 2006.

Melvin was an avid sports fan. Melvin played amateur baseball and basketball as a teenager and continued until his oldest son started playing organized sports. Melvin was a loyal Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan. He enjoyed watching his children play various sports through their high school and college years and then followed the sports activities of his grandchildren as they came along.

Melvin accepted Christ and was baptized in First Baptist Church of Lodi, Calif. After he moved back to North Dakota, he was active in Cathay Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School superintendent for 28 years. When the Cathay church closed in 1995, Melvin and Mary joined Calvary Baptist Church in Carrington, where Melvin was Sunday School superintendent for another six years. He also served several terms as Deacon and Trustee.

Melvin always had a "let's get-er done attitude," which got him elected as chairman or president of the many groups he joined. This gave him the opportunity to experience many exciting events, such as sitting next to then-President Ronald Reagan in a conference room in 1984.

Some of the organizations to which Melvin was elected president or chairman were the Cathay PTA, Wells County National Farmers Organization, North Dakota National Farmers Organization, Carrington Quarterback Club and Carrington Senior Citizens Club. He was chairman of Cathay Baptist Church when it closed and negotiated the deal to sell the building and its contents. While not chairman, he was on the Cathay School Board when the board decided to close the school in 1979.

Melvin also joined the Carrington Ambulance squad as a transfer driver when he was 77 and served for five years. Melvin also worked for Polries-Marcotte Farms for 13 years as a seasonal worker.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Jill (Craig) McCormack, Des Lacs, N.D., Susan (Gary) Wold of Watford City, N.D., Peggy (Reggie) Bettenhausen of Wishek, N.D., Teresa (Mark) Forseth of Hillsboro, N.D., and Maxine (Paul) Herr of Bismarck, N.D.; sons Philip (Karin) Schramm of Arthur, N.D., David (Carrie) Schramm of Yakima, Wash., and Aaron (Becca) Schramm of Park River, N.D.

He also is survived by 23 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, brother Rudolph, and sisters Regina Pepple, Alma Schramm, Stella Bennett and Vella Burzloff.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to The Gideons International for Bibles or Crystal Springs Camp, Medina.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Carrington and New Rockford, N.D.