LaValle Gravning – Brookings

LaValle Gravning, age 91, of Brookings, passed away on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at the Brookings Hospital. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Eidsness Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, at Brookings First Assembly of God. Burial will follow at the Colman Cemetery, Colman, SD.
LaValle Donald Gravning was born on Dec. 27, 1931, to Severin and Geneva (Bruflat) Gravning in White, SD. LaValle was drafted into the United States Army in January of 1954, and faithfully served his country until January of 1956. During this time, he was stationed in Alaska as a mechanic. LaValle married Margrethe McKenzie in LuVerne Minnesota. They spent 66 happy years together, living in Sioux Falls, Colman, Alaska, California, and most recently Brookings.
The couple were the owners of several salvage yards, most recently Wess Salvage Yard, located south of Brookings. Over the 49 years that they spent working together, it is estimated that they were responsible for crushing well over 200,000 vehicles.
LaValle loved making his own inventions. He built the first car crusher that they used in the salvage business. He also loved reading health books and sharing his knowledge of healthy living with his children.
Survivors include his sons: Wes (Paula) Gravning, of Brookings, Willis (Janice) Gravning, of Sioux Falls, and Dean (Deana) Gravning, of South Dakota; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one brother, Marlyn Gravning. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; three brothers; and five sisters.