Artha S. Travers

Artha S. Travers, age 92 of Grafton, ND passed away on Monday, February 3 at Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton.

Artha was born on November 19, 1927 in Northwood, ND, daughter of the late Aslak & Sophia Nordbo. In 1945 she graduated from Northwood High School.  She attended Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and graduated from Mayville State College, Mayville, ND.  Artha taught school in a couple country schools before moving to Grafton around 1960 to teach 1 ^st grade at Chase Elementary School.

On April 3, 1971 she married Willis Travers from Hoople, ND, and they made their home in Grafton for the rest of their lives.  On May 30, 1972 she gave birth to their son, James Travers.  Artha retired from public school teaching around that same time.  In 1976-77 she started running a preschool in their home during the school year.  She continued teaching preschool for about 20 years until 1997 when she retired.  In retirement she worked part time for the Squire Shop in Grafton and answered phones for Tollefson Funeral Home.  Besides gardening and doing cross-stich Artha loved to serve and volunteer.  Throughout the years she was involved in many different things at Grafton Lutheran Church and throughout the community.  Willis and Artha volunteered in many ways together including teaching preschool Sunday School at church.  She served on the Grafton School Board, the Lutheran Sunset Home Board, Grafton Church Council & Park River Bible Camp Board.  Artha was involved in La Boheme, Fine Arts Club, Church WELCA & Circles, Lutheran Sunset Home Auxiliary and other groups.  She was the coordinator of funeral lunches at Grafton Lutheran, organized the Primetime group at church and along with others chaired the church fall supper for many years.  Artha was also the chair and co-chair of the Park River Bible Camp Lutefisk Supper for many years, since its inception. She also was the coordinator of the Grafton Fine Arts Blood Drives for several years.  In 1992 she was recognized as one of Grafton’s outstanding citizens by the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce.  In the fall of 2019, she moved to Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton.

Artha is survived by her son James Travers of Grand Forks, ND, sister-in-law Ardelle (Marvin) Nordbo of Fargo, ND and a number of nephews, nieces and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents Aslak & Sophia, her husband Willis Travers, her brothers Marvin Nordbo, Olaf Nordo & his wife Yvonne Nordbo, her sister Borghild Korsmo & her husband Philip Korsmo, father-in-law & mother-in-law Bert & Bertha Travers, Sister-in-law Jean Howland & her husband Duaine Howland.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 7, 2020 at 10:30 A.M.  at the Grafton Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND.  Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton.  Friends may also call at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Grafton Lutheran Cemetery this spring.  The family asks that in leu of lots of flowers, memorials be given to organizations & ministries.