Born in St. James, Minnesota, Graven served as a United States Army combat engineer during World War I.

He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of Minnesota in 1921, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1921.

From 1936 to 1937, he was a special assistant state attorney general of Iowa and a counsel for the Iowa State Highway Commission.

[1] Graven was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 3, 1944, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa vacated by Judge George Cromwell Scott.

His service terminated on February 1, 1970, due to his death in San Antonio, Texas.