1938
Kermit
2015
Kermit Kvamme
February 26, 1938 — August 16, 2015
Kermit L. Kvamme, 77, of Fergus Falls died peacefully at home on Sunday, August 16th, 2015.
Kermit was born February 26, 1938 to Ludvig and Olga (Haarstad) Kvamme on the family farm near Rollag, MN. Norwegian was his only language, until beginning country school at District 14, where he learned English at age 6. The family moved to Minneapolis when Ludvig and Olga became employed at Augsburg College in 1946, so young Kermit grew up on the campus of Augsburg. Kermit met his best friend and high school sweetheart, Grace Anderson, at Minnehaha Academy. They sang in the Minnehaha Singers together, were engaged before graduation, and married on February 8th, 1958. They had four children, Scott, Kevin, Billi Jo, and Missi, all born in MN. Kermit's lifelong career in sales started in Minneapolis, first with groceries, then real estate. In 1966, he went to work for New Holland, selling farm machinery in central MN, before accepting a transfer to Minot, ND. In 1976, Kerm left New Holland to go into the roof and floor truss business, moving the family first to Bismarck, ND, and then on to Billings, MT. When the housing boom crashed in 1985, Kermit went to work as a salesman for Alpine Engineered Products, a supplier to the truss industry. Kerm and Grace moved to Denver, and finally to Phoenix, where Kermit became the Western District Sales Manager for Alpine, with a territory that encompassed Alaska, Hawaii and the western third of the country. This life on the road included over 2 million miles driven without an accident – Uff Da! After retirement, Kermit and Grace moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 2004 to be near their kids and grandkids.
Kermit was raised in a Christian family, trusted Christ as His Lord and Savior, and led his own family to know and trust in Jesus. He and Grace were very active as a team in numerous Lutheran Brethren congregations, including Minot, Bismarck, Billings, Arvada, Phoenix, and then Bethel Church in Fergus Falls, MN. Over the years, they have hosted Bible studies in their home, taught Sunday school, led youth group events, couples clubs, sang in choirs, supported missionaries, and basically could be counted on for whatever was needed. Many people have been blessed by Kermit's enthusiastic song-leading, whether at the pulpit or around a campfire, and his heart and home was always open to friends and family. Kermit believed that a Christian education was a valuable gift to his children, sending all four of them to the Lutheran Brethren high school, Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls. In recent years, Kermit was involved with fundraising for Hillcrest, which he loved. He was a faithful fan at Hillcrest sports events, where his booming "DEFENSE Red!" will surely be missed.
Kermit was a man of many talents and interests, with a larger-than-life personality. He was known for his hearty laugh, encouraging words, generous & tender heart, spiritual leadership, kindness, and loyal friendship. He loved singing and playing his guitar, hunting, golfing, fishing, boating, camping, auto racing, classic cars, NFL football, going to concerts and events, dinners out with friends, and spending time with his grandchildren playing Monopoly or making lefse. Kerm and Grace loved to travel, spent many winters in Hawaii, and also traveled the whole USA, the Caribbean and Europe. Norway was a sentimental favorite destination that Kerm talked about often.
Throughout his life, until the hour of his passing, Kermit would state that he trusted Christ for his salvation, believed that his sins were forgiven, and took comfort that God knew the number of his days here on earth. He passed peacefully, early on a beautiful Sunday morning, his favorite day of the week.
He was preceded in death by his parents and all five of his siblings; Lillian, Stella Ann, Renora, Carroll and Carlton.
Kermit is survived by his wife of 57 years, Grace; their four children, Scott (Becky)Kvamme of Fergus Falls, Kevin Kvamme of Ham Lake, MN, "Bee" Billi Jo (Paul) Larson of Fergus Falls, and Missi (Jeff) Isaac of Fergus Falls; and ten grandchildren, Kristina Kvamme, Gabriel, Gracia, Nick, Karina and Nate Larson, and Taylor, Jacob, Samuel and Daniel Isaac.
Memorials are preferred to Hillcrest Lutheran Academy or the Church of the Lutheran Brethren Seminary.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff, doctors and nurses of the LRH Cancer Center and Lakeland Hospice for their care and support over the last two and a half years.
Kermit's Folder
Kermit was born February 26, 1938 to Ludvig and Olga (Haarstad) Kvamme on the family farm near Rollag, MN. Norwegian was his only language, until beginning country school at District 14, where he learned English at age 6. The family moved to Minneapolis when Ludvig and Olga became employed at Augsburg College in 1946, so young Kermit grew up on the campus of Augsburg. Kermit met his best friend and high school sweetheart, Grace Anderson, at Minnehaha Academy. They sang in the Minnehaha Singers together, were engaged before graduation, and married on February 8th, 1958. They had four children, Scott, Kevin, Billi Jo, and Missi, all born in MN. Kermit's lifelong career in sales started in Minneapolis, first with groceries, then real estate. In 1966, he went to work for New Holland, selling farm machinery in central MN, before accepting a transfer to Minot, ND. In 1976, Kerm left New Holland to go into the roof and floor truss business, moving the family first to Bismarck, ND, and then on to Billings, MT. When the housing boom crashed in 1985, Kermit went to work as a salesman for Alpine Engineered Products, a supplier to the truss industry. Kerm and Grace moved to Denver, and finally to Phoenix, where Kermit became the Western District Sales Manager for Alpine, with a territory that encompassed Alaska, Hawaii and the western third of the country. This life on the road included over 2 million miles driven without an accident – Uff Da! After retirement, Kermit and Grace moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 2004 to be near their kids and grandkids.
Kermit was raised in a Christian family, trusted Christ as His Lord and Savior, and led his own family to know and trust in Jesus. He and Grace were very active as a team in numerous Lutheran Brethren congregations, including Minot, Bismarck, Billings, Arvada, Phoenix, and then Bethel Church in Fergus Falls, MN. Over the years, they have hosted Bible studies in their home, taught Sunday school, led youth group events, couples clubs, sang in choirs, supported missionaries, and basically could be counted on for whatever was needed. Many people have been blessed by Kermit's enthusiastic song-leading, whether at the pulpit or around a campfire, and his heart and home was always open to friends and family. Kermit believed that a Christian education was a valuable gift to his children, sending all four of them to the Lutheran Brethren high school, Hillcrest Academy in Fergus Falls. In recent years, Kermit was involved with fundraising for Hillcrest, which he loved. He was a faithful fan at Hillcrest sports events, where his booming "DEFENSE Red!" will surely be missed.
Kermit was a man of many talents and interests, with a larger-than-life personality. He was known for his hearty laugh, encouraging words, generous & tender heart, spiritual leadership, kindness, and loyal friendship. He loved singing and playing his guitar, hunting, golfing, fishing, boating, camping, auto racing, classic cars, NFL football, going to concerts and events, dinners out with friends, and spending time with his grandchildren playing Monopoly or making lefse. Kerm and Grace loved to travel, spent many winters in Hawaii, and also traveled the whole USA, the Caribbean and Europe. Norway was a sentimental favorite destination that Kerm talked about often.
Throughout his life, until the hour of his passing, Kermit would state that he trusted Christ for his salvation, believed that his sins were forgiven, and took comfort that God knew the number of his days here on earth. He passed peacefully, early on a beautiful Sunday morning, his favorite day of the week.
He was preceded in death by his parents and all five of his siblings; Lillian, Stella Ann, Renora, Carroll and Carlton.
Kermit is survived by his wife of 57 years, Grace; their four children, Scott (Becky)Kvamme of Fergus Falls, Kevin Kvamme of Ham Lake, MN, "Bee" Billi Jo (Paul) Larson of Fergus Falls, and Missi (Jeff) Isaac of Fergus Falls; and ten grandchildren, Kristina Kvamme, Gabriel, Gracia, Nick, Karina and Nate Larson, and Taylor, Jacob, Samuel and Daniel Isaac.
Memorials are preferred to Hillcrest Lutheran Academy or the Church of the Lutheran Brethren Seminary.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff, doctors and nurses of the LRH Cancer Center and Lakeland Hospice for their care and support over the last two and a half years.
Kermit's Folder
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