November 24, 1920 - October 15, 2020
Age 99, longtime resident of Golden Valley. Passed away on October 15, 2020. Grace was born on November 24, 1920 in Newell, SD to Johann and Dessie Schipke.
She graduated from high school in 1939 cum laude. Grace met her husband in 1941 at a dance she attended with someone else. Roy asked her for a dance, which turned out to be the Tennessee Waltz, and they danced the rest of night away. They married a couple of days after Pearl Harbor was bombed because he was going to be deployed.
After the war he stayed in service so Grace did some traveling to several states and abroad. It would be anywhere from 6 months to 3 years in one place. When Roy decided to retire, they decided to move to Minneapolis, Minnesota. They stayed with Grace's brother while deciding exactly where. Grace found a good house in Golden Valley, Minnesota where she spent the rest of her life, all but the last 4 years.
No matter where Grace lived she always kept in touch with all the relatives on both sides.
When Roy became ill she found work to help pay the bills and keep food on the table. Once he was back on his feet she continued to work, because she enjoyed it and dad liked to keep her happy.
She is survived by son, Richard; daughter, Jan (Dick) Harnois; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; daughters, Lori, Roetta, and Wanda; and nine siblings. Funeral service will be held at 1 PM on Monday, October 26 at Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel, 6527 Portland Ave S, Richfield, MN. Visitation one hour prior. Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Visitation
Monday, October 26, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel
6527 Portland Ave. S.
Richfield, MN 55423
Funeral Service
Monday, October 26, 2020
1:00 PM
Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel
6527 Portland Ave. S.
Richfield, MN 55423
Aunt Grace was a wonderful lady. She was admired by so many. I loved to visit with her and hear about all her great adventures. She will be greatly missed. RIP AUNT GRACE. Thoughts and prayers to her family.
My dear Aunt Grace, How I will miss our phone calls, your laughter, your laugh itself, the way you said it like it was, the sassy way about putting certain people in their place. I smile and laugh to myself every time I think of you and Mom playing “Sequence” or whatever game or putting zigsaw puzzles together. I smile with so wonderful memories of you. I will miss you so much! But you will be up there in Heaven saying it as it is and probably finding someone to play some game with and have a cup of coffee with. Rich, Karen, Jan, Dick and families; I am so sorry to hear of Aunt Grace’s passing. I can’t tell you how much she meant to me. She was so special to me. Rich thank you for calling me when she passed away. That meant so much to me. May God be with you as you go through the day and celebrate her life and the many, many years she had to touch the lives she did. My thoughts and prayers are with you today and always. I wish I could be there with you all. Love Always, Vicky and David Smith and families.
Aunt Grace always put a smile on my face. She could give as easily as take it. She always called me out on my exaggerations and challenged me to do better. Peace.