Evans Funeral Home
"Compassionate Funeral Service"
Carrington and New Rockford, North Dakota
701.652.3003 or 701.947.2911
Secondary Number ~ 701.650.9937
Melvin Schramm
Melvin Schramm, 91, of Carrington, N.D., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Golden Acres Manor in Carrington.
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, ND, Susan (Gary) Wold, Watford City, ND, Peggy (Reggie) Bettenhausen, Wishek, ND, Teresa (Mark) Forseth, Hillsboro, ND, and Maxine (Paul) Herr, Bismarck, ND; sons, Philip (Karin) Schramm, Arthur, ND, David (Carrie) Schramm, Yakima, Wash., and Aaron (Becca) Schramm, Park River, ND.
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.
Melvin’s Visitation will be Monday, December 16, 2024 from 10:00AM-11:00AM followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00AM all at Calvary Baptist Church, Carrington, ND.
His Burial will be at the Lakeview Cemetery, Cathay, ND.
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My prayers are with Mary and all the family. Mel and I kept in touch by email as the two last cousins of our gereration. I shall miss him.
Melvin was truly a one of a kind. At times his sense of humor surprised me. One time when I was giving him a ride to the field I stopped at a stop sign and he asked what I was doing, to which I asked what he meant… he said “In all the years I’ve been given rides to these fields no one has ever stopped at this stop sign!”
Melvin ran our anhydrous plant for years. Even at his age he would crawl out on the double tanks and fill them up. Sometimes he’d make me go around again to get closer even though I thought I was close enough. One time I asked him why he made me do it when I saw others parked further away then I was. He told me it was because he knew I could do better.
If there was a twins game on he would have the radio in the old camper at the anhydrous plant cranked up so he could hear it while he was outside working. He knew all the stats and was more than willing to share them!
God speed Melvin as you enter your heavenly home with God whom you knew well!
I knew Melvin as a dedicated fan of the Carrington legion baseball team when Phil was playing. Great memories. My condolences to the entire Schramm family. Phil – I hope we can get a team reunion put together within the next few years…
We are very grateful we got to spend time with Uncle Melvin at the Family Reunion in ND this past June. We got to tell him how much we appreciated the book he wrote of his life story and he happily signed a copy we bought for our daughter in law. It was always a delight to be with Melvin (and Mary). His laugh was contagious! We will miss him.
I was blest to get to know Melvin almost 40 years ago, when he was bench manager for The Carrington Amateur Baseball team! What a Great Man & Person ! To Mary & the entire family MY Prayers & Condolences! Phil & David , I Wish I could be there to CELEBRATE HIS GREAT LIFE WITH YOU! Take care, may he rest In peace! Cherrish all those great MEMORIES!
My most sincere condolences to the entire Schramm family. Melvin was the most dedicated ambulance driver with whom I ever had the pleasure of serving. There were many days (and nights) it was only the two of us driving lights and sirens all over eastern North Dakota. I could always depend on Melvin to get me where I needed to go. I miss our time together and was honored to know him.
We are so sorry to hear about Melvin’s passing. Sending our best wishes and prayers to the family.