Erliss J. Grass, 79, of Owatonna, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at Owatonna Hospital.

She was born Oct. 25, 1932, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Earl and Esther (Hansen) Anderson. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1950. She then worked at Northwestern Bell in Albert Lea. She married James Grass on Jan. 6, 1952, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They made their home in Owatonna where they farmed. Jim and Erliss raised and exhibited Spot hogs. Throughout her years, she also worked at Northwestern Bell in Owatonna, Josten’s, Cashman’s Seed and Fertilizer, NASDA, and Stockwell’s Accounting .

She was a member of The Associated Church in Owatonna and Ducum card club. Erliss was a longtime supporter of 4-H. She was active in her youth and later became an adult leader. She was a fixture at the Steele County Fair and Minnesota State Fair and always could be found in the swine barns. She enoyed fishing at the Boundary Waters on family vacations and also loved to knit and crochet

She is survived by her husband James Grass of Owatonna; three children, Cindy (and LaVerne) Martin of Albert Lea, Buz (and Cea) Grass of Owatonna and Julie Grass of Waltham; two grandchildren, Jake (Lindsay) Grass of Pine City and Mandi (Andy) Resler of Owatonna; one great-granddaughter, Madeline Grass. She welcomed into the family, Pete Grass of Owatonna and Kim Glover of Waltham.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Vonnie Wright and Sharon Anderson.

Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at The Associated Church on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at The Associated Church with the Rev. James Oberg officiating. In honor of Erliss, memorials may be given to donor’s choice.