Sally Graff, 88
Sally Graff, 88
Sally Graff, 88, Sioux Falls,xdied Monday, March 18, 2019, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls. Memorial visitation with family present to greet friends will be Friday, March 22, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m. at George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon. Memorial services begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Brandon Lutheran Church in Brandon. A graveside service will precede the memorial service at 10 a.m. at Brandon Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation to Brandon Lutheran Church, Brandon Historical Society, or a charity of your choice.
Sally Marie Stockstad was born in Wessington Springs, S.D., Feb. 12, 1931 to Dr. Walter and Beulah Stockstad. She grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School. She was attending college when Sally met the love of her life, Curtis Graff, at the Arkota Dance Hall. In her later years, she would often fondly reminisce, “He was SUCH a good dancer,” in her effervescent Sally voice. They were married Sept. 19, 1953, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Despite being a “city girl”, she enthusiastically moved to Brandon, where she lived 50 years on the farm where her husband was raised. She returned to Sioux Falls in 2003, as Curt’s health was failing. No longer able to dance, their love remained unequivocal and enduring. Sally was a committed caretaker to her husband and to her mother, “Grandma Bea,”. She also loved her sister, Beverly, with all her heart. She was a devoted mother, a loyal parent and dear friend to her children.
To know Sally was to love her. With her sparkling energy, love of laughter, and warm spirit, she filled her life with joy. Sally loved to travel and she generously shared the gift of travel with her family. She also loved her friends, and the deep relationships that she made throughout her life were the roots from which she blossomed. Sally felt she was so blessed and lucky to have married Curtis, who brought her into a family with such wonderful relatives who were also friends.
Sally started every day with the newspaper and the puzzles. A good day was when the crossword, sudoku and jumble were completed before she had to leave for one of her many activities. She loved to play cards and mahjong, attend coffee gatherings, PEO and dinner groups. She was an active member of Brandon Lutheran Church and treasured the friends she met there. She had a positive outlook and lived her life to the fullest, never giving up despite a cancer diagnosis in 2015. Her radiant light will be dearly missed but shines on in the love she shared with so many.
Survivors grateful for having shared her life are her four children, JoNell (Bill) Bly, Sandra (Tom) Markley, W. Richard Graff, and Mark Graff; grandchildren, Sarah Bly (Robert Strand), Katherine Bly (Tarek Haddad), Andrea Carson (Brett), Aaron Markley (Anastasia); her great grandchildren, Charlie Carson, Henri Haddad, Mikkel Bly-Strand, Fred Carson, Jonas Salla Bly-Strand, Walter Haddad, and Theodore Markley. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Lynn Aas, his four sons and their families, and Curtis’s cousin, Lois Ahrendt. She is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis; parents, Walter and Beulah Stockstad; sister, Beverly Aas; and grandson, Michael Bly.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.
