By Chad Koenen

Publisher

As he sits at a desk just a few feet away from the chapel where some of the most epic games of indoor football took place as a child in New York Mills, Greg Karvonen reflected not only on what his family’s business has meant to the community, but to the families going through some of their most difficult moments of life. One hundred years after his grandparents started Karvonen Funeral Home in NY Mills, Greg is the third generation of Karvonens to own and operate the business, which has become a bit of an anomaly in the growing culture of corporate and big businesses in the funeral industry. 

“To be the same family ownership for 100 years this day in time is a huge milestone because that just doesn’t happen anymore,” said Greg of his family’s continued ownership of the funeral home. 

Growing up in the funeral industry, Greg saw first-hand the overall importance of having a caring family-centric business to guide families through the challenges of saying goodbye to a loved one. As a child, Greg remembered coming home and seeing families, often people he knew, gathering in the chapel attached to his home to plan a funeral for a family member or friend. Many days he would quietly walk into their home, or play outside as a family prepared for a funeral. 

Of course, there were definite benefits, as the large chapel presented an almost surreal indoor play area for a young child when it wasn’t being used by a family in need.

“I grew up here and we always used this door back and forth as kids,” said Greg pointing to the door attaching his home to the chapel. “Growing up we would use the chapel to play. It was normal to come home from school and see 100 people in here.”

Those experiences as a child helped to show Greg the importance of providing compassionate care to families who are mourning the loss of a loved one. As he grew older, Greg helped place people in the caskets and when he turned 16 he could drive to Fargo, N.D. and the Twin Cities area to bring a loved one back to NY Mills for a funeral. It was a sense of freedom, but it was also an important part of the process as he helped his family-owned business provide the caring support they are still known for today.

While he grew up in the industry the thought of moving back home was the furthest thing from his mind when Greg graduated from NY Mills High School. However, as the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder and Greg soon realized he missed the small town charm of NY Mills and rural Minnesota. 

“When I graduated high school I never thought I would come back to rural Minnesota. The longer I was gone the more I missed the small town way of life,” he said. 

Greg eventually talked to his parents about potentially taking over the funeral home and they presented him an offer he couldn’t refuse—a no strings attached opportunity to see if he liked the ins and outs of the industry. 

“They never pushed it,” he said.

Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Services was started in 1926 by Yalmer and Ina Karvonen. The couple established the Karvonen Furniture Store and Funeral Home in NY Mills. Their care and concern for the families they served set a family tradition of Funeral Service Excellence.

Harold and Nancy Karvonen operated the family furniture store and funeral home in Sebeka, before moving back to NY Mills in 1954 where Harold joined his father, Yalmer in the family furniture store and funeral home. With the help of his wife, Nancy, she has contributed a woman’s touch to funeral services. In 1999 Harold was honored by the State of Minnesota, Mortuary Science Unit for 50 years as a Minnesota Licensed Funeral Director.

Greg and Suzi Karvonen, both of whom graduated from NY Mills High School, quickly found their calling in the funeral industry. Greg graduated with honors in 1992 from Mid-America College of Funeral Services in Jefferson, Ind. In 1993 the pair joined the family funeral firm and in January of 1998 they purchased the family business as the third generation of Karvonen owners. 

Today, Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Services has over 20 employees and operates funeral homes in both Henning and Wadena. The Karvonens purchased the Belmont Funeral Home from Larry and Gayle Belmont in 2013. Prior to their purchase, the Belmont Funeral Home remained in the Belmont family for well over a century, which only reinforced the importance for the Karvonen family of having a locally and family-owned funeral home in a community. 

Even with a growing list of funerals and over 20 employees, there are very few funerals at Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Services in which the Karvonens don’t still have a hand in planning, whether that be simply saying hi and expressing condolences to family members, or working on the intricate details of the funeral itself. 

“The helping of people for sure. We treat people like they are our own family,” said Suzi of what she enjoys about the industry.

Another unique feature of Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Services is the comfort care team that includes a trio of four-legged supporters who can help family and friends through a difficult moment. 

Suzi prides herself on the dogs that can provide some warmth and companionship to people of all ages as they pay their respects to individuals who have passed away.

Another offering that sets the funeral home apart is its on-site crematory—the only of its kind locally. The secure on-site facility allows families to know their loved one remains in the funeral home’s care throughout the entire process. With the popularity of cremation services on the rise, having an on-site crematory allows people to know their loved ones will never leave the caring hands of a Karvonen staff member. Prior to having an on-site crematory, representatives from Karvonens would need to travel to different parts of the state where a crematory was available to meet the needs of their growing business.

“We are really the only funeral home in Otter Tail, Becker and Douglas County that operates a crematory as a family,” said Greg.

Since there is no telling when a person may pass away, employees at Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Services are essentially on call 24-hours a day seven days a week. That meant for years vacations were cut short if a person passed away or Thanksgiving meals were wrapped up and taken on the road in order to help a family start the grieving process. It can be a trying and grueling time, but one that neither Greg or Suzi would change for anything as they have seen the impact that having a caring shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold can leave on a person. 

“This is home, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Greg.

After 100 years of ownership in the Karvonen family, Greg and Suzi continue to operate the family-owned and family-centric funeral home just as it was when Greg’s grandparents started it a century ago.