Obituary of Carla Marie Durkee

A Celebration of Life for Carla Marie (Tonsfeldt) Durkee will take place Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, MN. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM with the service following at 2:00 PM. A reception will be held following the service. Carla died in her home on June 14, 2022 with her husband Bob, children, and family by her side.

Carla was born in Fargo, ND on October 11, 1967. The Comstock and Barnesville communities were important during her formative years, where she became a lifelong learner and reader, and was active in school and church. Carla excelled in academics, graduating with honors from Barnesville High School, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and the University of St. Thomas (MBA).

She worked briefly at KPMG in New Jersey, before joining Banner Engineering, where during her 24 year career she rose from controller to president. Banner grew to an international company with Carla playing a central role in establishing manufacturing facilities and sales offices around the world. She will be remembered as an ambitious and caring leader, for her ability to create teamwork and collaboration across the entire organization, and for her ability to identify hidden potential in peers and staff that could change lives.

With her children and family, Carla was a firecracker, sparking lively conversations, card games, challenges and laughter. She loved relaxing at her parents’ cabin on Pelican Lake, also known as her favorite place in the world. Her children were the light of her life and she loved her time spent with them.

Carla is survived by her husband, Robert Durkee, children, Jacob and Emma Grafstrom, parents Dean and Mae Tonsfeldt, brother, Ryan (Michelle) Tonsfeldt, niece, Isabelle Tonsfeldt, and nephews, Luke and Adam Tonsfeldt along with many loving family members.

Carla was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Kenneth and Margaret Carr, her paternal grandparents, Wayne and Becky Tonsfeldt, and her niece, Hope Hali Tonsfeldt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to AutismSpeaks.org, GlioblastomaFoundation.org, and Optage Hospice at PresHomes.org. Virtual service can be viewed at www.LordOfLife.org/CelebrationOfLife.