Tillie Graff, 83

Tillie Clausine Swalve Bebo Graff, 83, of Sandpoint, Idaho, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, May 17, 2005.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2005, at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Nickodemus and Pastor Tony Nelson officiating.

Funeral and burial services will be held in Estherville, Iowa, on Monday, May 23, 2005.

Tillie was a regular attendee of Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Tillie was born to Otto and Elsie (Sleper) Swalve on Jan. 10, 1922, in Ledyard, Iowa. She attended schools in Ledyard, Grants Pass and Bancroft, Iowa. She was raised on a farm near Titonka, Iowa. At 15, Tillie went to work full time as a nanny/caregiver to help support the family.

On one of her jobs, Tillie met a handsome young farmhand and her life would be forever changed. Tillie married Vinal Bebo in Ceylon, Minn., on Nov. 16, 1941. They had two girls, Lenora and Ardella. They farmed in northwestern Iowa until 1962, when they moved to Estherville. Tillie went to work for John Morrell Meat Packing Plant as head cook. Truck drivers came from far and wide to eat her "home cooked" meals.

It always bothered Tillie that she didn't have a high school diploma, so at the age of 56 she studied hard for two months and was very proud to get her GED.

After being a widow for 13 years, Tillie married Andrew Graff. Shortly after Andy's death, Tillie decided to have a change of scenery and packed up and moved to Sandpoint in 1992 to be near her daughter, Ardella and family.

Tillie enjoyed spending time wither her family, and nothing brought a smile to her face like holding her grandbabies. She also enjoyed working crossword puzzles, playing games and cards, flower gardening, fishing, cooking and baking, helping others and embroidering. All of her family has beautiful embroidered towels, pillowcases or quilts to remember her by.

She also enjoyed making baby quilts for local organizations and churches to hand out to those who needed them. She felt most worthwhile when she was doing something to help someone else in some way. Tillie's lemon meringue pies were a special treat, and sought out by all who had eaten them, and were even known to bring considerable amounts of money at local fund-raising auctions.

Tillie is survived by her two daughters and son-in-laws, Lenora and Russell Kiley of Algona, Iowa, and Ardella and Larry Book of Sandpoint, Idaho; five granddaughters, Julie and Ed Duran of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Pam and Al Winter of Clarion, Iowa, Monica Oetker of Marshalltown, Iowa, Connie and Thane Lloyd of Sandpoint, Idaho, Jolene and Vance Geisinger of Sandpoint, Idaho; nine great-grandchildren, Paige, Jacob and Megan Oetker, Jesse and Brady Winter, Amanda and Katie Duran, all of Iowa, and Elizabeth and Hannah Geisinger of Sandpoint; and two great-great-grandchildren, Genesis Winter and Jaymz Winter of Iowa.

She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Annie Schroeder, Sena and Forrest McGregor, Otto and Norma Swalve, Ellsworth and Betty Swalve, Ada Williams, Andy and Rosie Swalve, Elsie and Harold Selberg, Anita and Vern Barlow, and Leona Kleine, all of Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We will all greatly miss her love and the way she took care of each of us in her own special way.

Tillie was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her sister Frances, her brothers Richard, Johnny, Roy and Evert.

Memorials may be made to Little Lambs Preschool at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Prayers and Squares Quilting Ministry at First Christian Church.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Services of Sandpoint, Idaho.