Marian Graff

Marian Margaret Graff (86) has gone from our sight on the 29th of March 2012 at Sun City Arizona. Marian was born on the 17th of January 1926 to her parents, Almon and Ona Lewis of Milnor, North Dakota. Through the years she shared many vivid memories with her children of growing up in North Dakota. She placed in their minds forever the image of wild crocus fighting their way through the spring snows. Her deep appreciation and anticipation of the first lilacs in spring has been passed on to each of her children. In 1943 Marian married Ralph Faber to which was born her first son, Robert. Later in 1946 she married Orvin Graff of Wynmdere North Dakota. Orvin later became an oil driller, which gave the family many opportunities to travel throughout the United States. Before leaving North Dakota for the oil fields in Alaska, five children were born to Orvin and Marian: Leona, Allen, Leslie, Arlene and Rose. One of Marian’s greatest passions was reading. When visiting any of her children’s homes at this time, you would see that love perpetuated by the rows of books in each of their homes. In 1986 when Orvin retired from the oilfields in Alaska, they returned to Wyndmere where they made their home until moving to Sun City Arizona in the year 2000. In 2006 Marian’s health began to decline. During this time, one of the things that brought her great joy, was sitting at the dining room table where the nearest wall had become the display area for pictures of her 23 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. At this time, she is more than likely visiting with the four great-grandchildren who are yet due to arrive for their turn on the earth within the next several months. On the 10th of March Orvin and Marian were able to celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary at home. They were showered with cards, calls, e-mails, Facebook messages and flowers from their copious posterity. The next morning Marian suffered a stroke and has been in the hospital since then until her passing. There was no doubt in Marian’s mind that she would one day, as Job declared, stand again on the earth and in her flesh, see God. Her belief in the resurrection was firm. Marian’s parents, Almon and Ona (Fay) Lewis, one brother, John Lewis, and grandson Tommy Faber, have preceded her in death. Her two surviving siblings are, Jean Lewis Brown of Prosser Washington and Melvin Oscar Lewis of Eau Claire Wisconsin. No funeral or memorial service will be held as all of her children, who are from Alaska, Idaho, Washington, North Dakota and Arizona, were able to visit with her before her passing. As Marian was heard to say on moments like this, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”