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Stephen “Steve” L. Graff

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Service Information

Stephen “Steve” L. Graff, age 74, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, with interment on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 1:00 P.M., in Sillerud Cemetery, rural Balaton, Minnesota.

Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. and will continue one hour prior to the service ALL at Faith Lutheran Church.

As an alternative to flowers, you may consider a donation to Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, MN.

Visitation/Gathering
Faith Lutheran Church
335 Main Street S
Hutchinson, MN
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Service
Faith Lutheran Church
335 Main Street S
Hutchinson, MN
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Funeral Chapel
Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel
899 Highway 15 South
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Phone:(320) 587-2128
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Cemetery
Sillerud Lutheran Cemetery
620 221st Street
Balaton, MN
Murray County
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Obituary

Stephen “Steve” Lowell Graff was born on April 29, 1948, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was the son of Herbert and Dorothy (Larson) Graff. Steve was baptized and confirmed as a child. He received his education in Madison SD, and was a graduate of the Madison High School Class of 1966. Steve furthered his education at Augusta College in Sioux Falls, SD, graduating in 1970.

On June 30, 1973, Steve was united in marriage to Susan Hytjan at Sillerud Lutheran Church in Balaton, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with three children, David, Thomas, and Kaarin. Steve and Susan resided in Hutchinson, Minnesota. They shared 49 years of marriage.

Steve taught on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for two years before joining the Hutchinson School District teaching computers and middle school math for 33 years. Steve was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church; he sang in the choir, ushered, attended bible study, and was involved with the construction of a new addition to the church building. He devoted his time to the Hutchinson athletic program, volunteering as photographer, videographer, statistician, timekeeper and was known for many years as the “Voice of the Tigers,” announcing games for football, hockey, track, swimming, and ice skating as well as many other events each year. He was also a member of the Hutchinson JayCees and served as Commodore of the Hutchinson Water Carnival in 1981.

Steve enjoyed reading, listening to jazz music, and woodworking. Traveling, telling stories and visiting with his friends were times of joy for him. Most of all, Steve was a family man. He took interest in his family members’ passions and attended as many musical, sporting and ceremonial events for each child and grandchild as he could.

Steve passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, at the age of 74 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Steve is survived by his:
Wife, Susan Graff of Hutchinson, MN;
Sons, David (Amanda) Graff of Los Alamos, NM,
Tom (Lola) Graff of Maiden Rock, WI;
Daughter, Kaarin (Tim) Hanske of Baxter, MN;
14 grandchildren, Sienna (Andrew), Seton (Kiley), Kaeden, Kelton, Kian, Gus, Braya, Levi, Abner, Avera, Westin, Elisabeth, Zayla, and James;
Many other relatives and friends.

Steve is preceded in death by his Parents, Dorothy and Herbert Graff.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Graff says

    August 15, 2022 at 7:25 pm

    Sue and family. I’m so sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.

    Love
    Kim Graff

    Reply
  2. Susan Griep says

    August 15, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    Sue and family,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Steve was a great guy.

    Sue Griep

    Reply
  3. Vernice Larson says

    August 16, 2022 at 9:29 am

    Sue and family,

    My heart is breaking for you, thinking of you and saying prayers for comfort and strength.

    Love, Vernice

    Reply
  4. paul harrington says

    August 16, 2022 at 11:10 am

    I do not know you folks too well but still want to express my sympathies. Steve sounds like a really high quality person in every respect. Our sincere condolences to you and yours. Hope the funeral/memorial service will be a real celebration of a life well lived. I trust you will also find genuine hope and comfort in the promise of the resurrection. As a friend of mine likes to say, for the Christian, death has more to do with arrival than departure. Yours in the faith we share, Pastor Paul and Margaret Harrington (another Venture Out neighbor) p.s. Barry and Louise Anderson are good friends of ours.

    Reply
  5. Fern Hoff says

    August 16, 2022 at 11:26 am

    Sue and Family, please accept my sympathy at Steve’s passing. I always enjoyed visiting with him when he came to see me in Payroll at the District Office. May God bless you with comfort at this time.
    Fern Hoff

    Reply
  6. Ken and Sharon Katzer says

    August 16, 2022 at 1:19 pm

    Sue and Family, we send our deepest sympathy and prayers to you at this time of Steve’s passing. It’s been along time but we still think of and remember our Hutchinson friends. Take care.

    Reply
  7. Joan and Jerry Hoffman says

    August 16, 2022 at 7:27 pm

    Susan and family, our prayers for you are that you will find comfort in knowing Steve is free of pain and at peace.
    We didn’t know him well but Jerry recalls the good conversation he had with him at the Miller cousin reunion last summer. He gave his life to educating and working with youth in many ways. That is truly a gift given to many.
    May you share with others the many memories you of him. With love, Joan (Miller) and Jerry Hoffman

    Reply
  8. phyllis forsythe says

    August 17, 2022 at 9:50 am

    Sue and Family,
    I’m so sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. It’s difficult for the loved ones when it happens so quickly, but a blessing to know that it did happen that way for Steve so he didn’t suffer at the end. My thoughts and prayers to you.
    Phyllis Forsythe

    Reply
  9. Sherry Johnson says

    August 17, 2022 at 2:30 pm

    Sue and family,
    I am so sorry for your untimely and unexpected loss. My deep condolences to you, family and friends on losing Steve. I am glad I was able to meet you and talk with Steve, however briefly, at the Augustana reunion last October after 56 years. You are on my mind and in my prayers. Sounds like you have many wonderful memories of your lives together. May God’s ever-present love and grace surround you in these tender days.
    Again, so sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  10. Sharon Nohner says

    August 17, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    Ohhh my…I just had a nice visit with you both in the last month. At one funeral & your garage sale. I was so happy to hear of your next adventure together. I’m so sorry it was cut short…I enjoyed working with Steve, visiting at events as far back as my HHS days!! I know I can speak for our class of 79’ that he will be missed. He took the time to come & share reunions with us! RIP Mr. Graff!! Hugs to your family!

    Reply
  11. Rick Karl says

    August 17, 2022 at 11:10 pm

    Sue and family,
    So very sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. I enjoyed working with Steve, a wonderful person!
    He was so very proud of his family and enjoyed telling stories about them.
    Bonnie Karl

    Reply
  12. Cheryl Labat says

    August 18, 2022 at 9:01 am

    I’m so sorry for your loss Susan. Prayers to you and your family.

    Reply
  13. Karen Greve and Wes Greve says

    August 18, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Sue and family, I am so very sorry on the loss of your husband, dad and grandpa. I remember your family as a youth in the faith Lutheran church and Steve as a school teacher and awesome announcer for the high school athletic events. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  14. Renae ashwill says

    August 19, 2022 at 12:28 pm

    Sue and family. Larry and I are so sorry for your loss! Steve was a good man and will be missed. May all the good memories you have of him get you through this difficult time!

    Reply
  15. Betsy Himle says

    August 21, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    Sue and Family, We are so sorry to hear about Steve’s passing. Blessings during these difficult days. Betsy and Lowell Himle

    Reply
  16. Rhonda & Peter Baker says

    August 22, 2022 at 7:24 am

    Dearest Sue and Family,
    We met the Steve & Sue through friends at Venture Out. Then we became neighbours and good friends. Steve was a great guy and an excellent ranconteur. He loved to share the joyful stories of his family and interesting things he and Sue had done, places visited or something he had read. Our family stories were on a similar track this past spring and early summer as long time family homes were sold and moves to new homes ensued. Pictures and brief texts kept us connected as the new adventure took shape. Although we only knew Steve and Sue during the winter months in Mesa, we often congregated at the Graff’s because they loved a houseful of friends and family. Steve will be sorely missed.
    Rhonda & Peter (Ontario, Canada)

    Reply
  17. Jan and Bob says

    August 29, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    Dear Sue,
    Our prayers are with you and your family at this time……may the love of family and friends surround you and comfort you at this difficult time. We have so many fond memories of our JC times together. Jan and Bob Carney

    Reply

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