Terry Evan Graven, 58, of Nampa, Idaho, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, after a brave and valiant 21-month battle with cancer.
His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the Nampa 10th Ward Chapel, 7908 Deer Flat Road.
Terry was honored by police color guard and the military.
A viewing was held on Tuesday at the church from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment was at the Veterans Cemetery in Boise.
Terry died peacefully at his home in Nampa, with his family at his side. He died with the same calm collected nature that personified his character. Terry challenged and successfully beat the odds that nature and others counted against him and was considered a miracle by those around him including his medical advisors.
He lived to see many of the milestones in 2004 and 2005 that others felt he would not be able to. He was known as a spiritual man, yet maintained an unmatched warrior spirit.
He was born on Aug. 25, 1946, to Walter E. Graven and Geraldine Mary Mathis Graven at Portland. He attended and graduated from Estacada Union High School in 1964. He was an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy from May 2, 1966, through Feb. 5, 1970.
Terry served faithfully and dutifully in the Vietnam War, aboard the USS Benjamin Stoddert as a radioman cryptographer and radio supervisor. He was also very involved with athletics and was the ship athletic petty officer during his tours.
His awards and commendations include the Armed Forces Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea) and Combat Action Ribbons.
Terry met and married his wife, Ramona, in September of 1971. They were introduced by two dear friends who were also at his bedside.
In 1974, their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Terry and Ramona are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Terry was a high priest, serving his faith dutifully.
He attended Oregon Institute of Technology at Klamath Falls and Clark College at Vancouver, Wash. He was a police officer and sheriff’s deputy at Vale before moving to the Gresham Police Department as an officer, then detective before retiring in August of 2003.
Terry lived the most honorable of lives, often known as a straight shooter who could weaken even the toughest of criminals with a demeanor that defined and commanded both integrity and respect. He was cherished for his wit, wisdom, ad sense of humor and for setting examples of high principles to all who knew and came in contact with him. He lived an exemplary life.
Survivors include his wife, Ramona of Nampa; his mother, Geraldine of Richland; two sisters, Gloria Graven of Springfield, and Marcia Dima of Baker City; four children, Tracy of Nampa, Greg of Yamhill, Del of Meridian, Idaho, and Jennifer of Nampa; 11 grandchildren and a 12th on the way.
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Graven; and brothers, Jack Graven and Darrell Betsinger.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, January, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
