Funeral services for Grace F. Graham, of Albert Lea, were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Bromeland

officiated. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Grace was born on Aug. 5, 1911, in Humboldt, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer and Rose (Strachan) Erickson.

She attended grade school in Iowa, her family later moved to Albert Lea where she graduated from High School in 1929. Following graduation, Grace was working as a waitress at a cafe in Albert Lea when she met her husband to be.

It was during the Depression, on Christmas Day in 1933, that Grace was united in marriage to Harry A. Graham at her parents’ home.

The couple made their home in Albert Lea, where Grace was employed as auditor at the Sears store for more than 30 years before retiring. Grace was a member of the United Methodist Church where she had been active in Circle for many years.

Although working and raising her family through the depression took much of her time in her earlier years,

after retirement she enjoyed playing cards, making quilts, knitting, crocheting, doing puzzles and collecting salt and pepper shakers.

Harry and Grace spent more than 58 years together before he died in the fall of 1992. In their years together Harry and Grace loved to drive and tour the countryside, after Harry’s death, daughter Glenda spent many enjoyable hours driving and touring with Grace.

It was just in her later years that failing health made it necessary for Grace to move from her home to an apartment in Albert Lea, then to Country Neighbors in New Richland, and most recently to Good Samaritan Center.

Grace died at Good Samaritan Center on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005, at the age of 94.

Grace will be lovingly missed by her family which includes three children: Charles H. Graham and his wife Marsha of Anchor Point, Alaska, Glen R. Graham and his wife Linda of Anchorage, Alaska, Glenda and her husband Donald Batt of Hartland; grandchildren: Sally and her husband Mark Coburn of Chugiak, Alaska, Daniel Graham and his wife Gina of Fairbanks, Alaska, Mark Graham of Anchorage, Alaska, Scott Batt and his wife Janell of Melbourne, Iowa, Neal Batt and his wife Darla of Hartland, Keith Batt and his wife Karen of Bellingham, Wash.,

D. Lynn Edwards of Boston, Mass.; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry, brother Charles Erickson and sisters Ethel Fjeldberg and Hazel &uot;Rickie&uot; Gary.

Grace will be greatly missed, especially for her keen sense of humor.

Blessed be her memory.