Louise Kramer

Louise A. Kramer, age 83, of Detroit Lakes, went to Heaven on the early morning hours of October 19, 2025, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, November 7th, with visitation at 11:00am, funeral at 12:00pm, with lunch to follow at 1:00pm.

Louise Ann Hegna was born on January 26th, 1942, in Sacred Heart, MN to Knute and Mabel (Rolstad) Hegna. She was the youngest of five siblings. When she was a little girl, her family moved to Canby, OR where they lived in a house on stilts. They moved to Sisseton, SD a few years later. 

This is where Louise met James Otis Gravdal, who lived at the next farm west of her family home. They met when they were in 8th grade and 10th grade respectively. Mom said she fell in love with James quickly and James did fall in love with her just as quickly. They were married young in Wheaton, MN. They then moved to Rush City, where Louise was a stay-at-home mom & wife. They had three children, David, Caralee and Tammy. When their children were young, she babysat for a couple of schoolteachers during the school year. When their youngest started school, she started working in the Rush City Elementary School kitchen. While they lived in Rush City, she was involved in Ladies Circle at the First Lutheran Church, attended Bible study, and was later involved in Lions Woman's Auxiliary. James and Louise were very much in love until James passed on May 1st, 1976. This was a very hard and life charging times for Louise. She attended Pine City Voc Tech to learn skills for office work. She later moved to Willmar, MN where she worked for many years at the Medical Center as a Receptionist and made appointments. In the later 1980’s, she moved to the Twin Cities where she worked at a few different businesses as a receptionist. Louise was united in marriage with Cliff Kramer on January 5th, 1989. When they both were retired, they enjoyed traveling and spent some time in McAllen, TX. Cliff passed away on August 18th, 2023.

Louise had moved to Detroit Lakes, and, after a brief time, she gave up driving - but still enjoyed getting out. She enjoyed shopping and going out to eat. When we would visit, we would ask her where she would like to go, or if she would like us to cook for her. She always enjoyed having company and visiting with everyone. If you asked her for her opinion she would say “you might not like my answer, but remember you asked”.

She loved to play cards, especially the game 31. Normally we would play for 15 cents, but we would play our last game of the day for a dollar – So many hours of fun. She loved it when you came to visit. We would always bring her treats. she just loved homemade party Chex mix and her son in law Jim’s special K’s bars. Her face lit up with a huge smile when he would show her what he brought. She enjoyed phone calls. she would tell you “I don’t do a lot, but I love to hear what you kids are doing”. Family was important to her, and she loved to see, in person or in pictures, her Grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Louise was a very happy and loving mother who is sadly missed.

She is survived by her children: David (Cheryl) Gravdal, Caralee (Doug) Walton, and Tammy (Jim) Reimer. Seven Grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren, and three great-great Grandchildren, a sister-in-law, niece and nephew, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James Gravdal, Philip Konsterle, Cliff Kramer and her siblings.