Swede Graham

Funeral Services for Leslie Alvin ?Swede? Graham, 74, of Marmarth, ND will be 10:00 a. m. , Thursday, October 27, 2005 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marmarth. Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery in Marmarth. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 26, 2005, 9:00 a. m. to 9:00 p. m. followed by a Family Service at 7:00 p. m. at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker. Visitation will continue on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church Swede passed away Saturday, October 22, 2005 at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker. Leslie Alvin Graham was born on August 23, 1931 to A. W. ?Babe? and Joy (Crow) Graham in Rhame, ND. The family lived on several different ranches south of Marmarth. Swede and his sister, Betty rode their horse ?Queen? several miles to school each day. In 1944 the family moved to Marmarth where Swede graduated from the 8th grade in 1945. Over the years Swede had many different jobs starting out at an early age while he was still in grade school he herded sheep. He worked for different ranches in the Marmarth area as well as driving truck. On June 29, 1949 he married Mary Delores ?Biddy? Peterson in Baker. To this union five wonderful children were born. Swede?s dream job came in 1979 when he was able to buy a ranch with his daughter Joy. He has been ranching ever since. Even as his health failed this past summer he insisted on helping with the haying. Swede was a man of few words. He was a true and loyal friend who would do anything for you. His greatest love was for his family and the ?Ponderosa Ranch? which he spent many hours improving. He is survived by his wife, Biddy (Mary Delores); two sons, Clayton (Mary Pat) Graham, Baker and Rock (Loretta) Graham, Marmarth; two daughters, Joy Duffield and Denise Shepherd both of Marmarth; two brothers, Ervin (Connie) Graham, Denver, CO and Preston (Annette) Graham, Vernal, UT; five sisters, Jayne Frisinger, Woodword, OK, Linda Zent and Julia Palmer both of Bismarck, ND, Gail Baum, Townsend, MT and Evelyn Austin, Miles City, MT; an aunt, Nurine ?Tootsie? Hanson, Rhame, ND; eight grandchildren, Teena (Tony) Holecek, Brad (Heidi) Duffield, Jason (Johnna) Graham, Jeremy Graham, Jarett (Trisha) Graham, Melissa Graham, David Shepherd, Janae Graham; and nine great-grandchildren, Justyce, Daulton, Hunter, Maleah, Darian, Caleb, Logan, Paiton and Harlee. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Yvonne Lois, son-in-law, Doug Duffield, two brothers, Max and Jimmy and a sister, Betty. Memorials may be given to the Fallon Medical Complex Foundation, Box 1119, Baker, MT. 59313 or the NRROC Medowlark Housing, 1041 N. 29th St. Billings, MT 59101.


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Burial Date: October 27, 2005
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral: Thursday, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Marmarth, ND