Fargo Business Owner Named Private Road for Grandmother
Hans Grafstrom honored his 88-year-old grandmother by naming a new private road at his Fargo construction firm.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Awards
Hans Grafstrom, owner of Grafstrom Construction, officially named a new private road Verna Way to honor his grandmother. The road connects to 19th Avenue North in Fargo.
Why it matters
The naming ceremony serves as a public tribute to Verna Grafstrom, recognizing her lifelong commitment to service and the upbringing of her large family.
Verna Grafstrom is an 88-year-old resident of Salol, Minnesota, who raised 14 children. The wider Grafstrom family currently totals 129 living descendants.
The players
Hans Grafstrom
He is the owner of the Fargo-based business Grafstrom Construction.
Verna Grafstrom
She is an 88-year-old matriarch living in Salol, Minnesota, who raised 14 children.
The details
Hans Grafstrom held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at his company headquarters to unveil the sign for Verna Way. The new road provides access to the facility from 19th Avenue North.
Timeline
Verna Way was officially named and celebrated on October 1, 2026.
Culture Shift
This dedication reflects a broader trend of private commercial developers using infrastructure to solidify family legacies in local communities. Such naming conventions emphasize multigenerational roots within family-owned firms.
The road provides a new point of access for visitors and clients traveling to the construction site near 19th Avenue North. Residents in the area should note the new signage reflecting this private road designation.
The takeaway
Honoring family matriarchs through permanent physical markers is a traditional method for reinforcing company values in family-owned businesses. This instance highlights how private property naming can serve as a meaningful gesture of intergenerational gratitude.
Further reading
Learn more about local Awards and honors in the Fargo area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.
