Helen Bernice Graves

Helen B. Graves age 84, Clark, the widow of Harlon "Pete" Graves, died in the Prairie Lakes Hospital at Watertown on Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 11AM in the Crocker Lutheran Church at Crocker with Minister Marion Grimes officiating.  Honorary casketbearers will be her Avon customers with the Active casketbearers being her grandchildren. Music will be presented by Marvine Obermeier as pianist, Fred Obermeier and Marvine Obermeier singing a duet and the Bradley/Crocker Lutheran Church Choir.  The congregation will sing "Borning Cry" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark.Visitation will be held on Sunday at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark from 4PM - 7PM.

She was born in Crocker, in the depot agent's home, the daughter of Ingvald R. "Rudy" and Pearl (Carlton) Skavang.  She attended school at Crocker and then was a graduate of Bradley High School in 1942.

On June 14, 1942 she was united in marriage to Harlon "Pete" Graves in Minnesota.  After their marriage, due to him being in the service, they lived in various communities in the United States.  Following the war and his discharge, they lived and farmed in Thorp Township north of Clark.  He died in 1993.

Helen's hobbies included playing cards, doing the search word games, cooking and baking.  She will long be remembered for her potato salad, ginger cookies, fried chicken and many other goodies. A passion in life of hers was being a salesperson/representative for Avon.  She started selling Avon in 1966 and continued until this year.  If you were a customer of hers you too got to share in her goodies, as she delivered many a time to people that were ill or had a birthday or any other reason to be blessed with her stopping by.  In 2000 she was received the Honor Society award from Avon.  She had won other numerous awards from them during her career.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Judy (Bob) Helmer of Rapid City, Linda Karber of Watertown, Glen (Sandy Hanson) Graves, Tom (Bonnie) Graves all of Clark, David (Sue) Graves of Palatine, IL and Charles Graves of Clark, 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.  She also leaves a sisters-in-law, Norma Skavang of Sturgis, SD. and Mavis Gourley of Sioux Falls.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers, Richard Skavang and Myron (Gladys) Ottum, a sister, Irene (Don) Miles, a great-grandson and a son-in-law, Larry Huisenga. email condolences at www.furnessfuneralhome.com