Deborah Sather

Deborah Juella Graff Sather, 93, of Greenbush, MN, died Friday, November 5, 2010, en route to the LifeCare Medical Center in Roseau, MN.

She was born on October 15, 1917, to Julius H. Graff and Emma Hellickson Graff at their home in Soler Township, Roseau County, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Oiland Lutheran Church of rural Greenbush, Minnesota.

In 1937, she married Alfred H. Sather. They farmed in Skagen and Barto Townships for many years. They owned a service station in Greenbush and lived and worked in both Washington and Montana, at various times. In 1962, they returned to the Greenbush area and resumed farming, and Deborah began her nursing career.

For a great part of her life, Deborah was a nurse. As a mother she nursed her children through a myriad of illnesses, including polio. Later, she cared for her terminally ill mother. Later still she began hospital nursing, and through self-study and diligence, became a licensed practical nurse.

Deborah was a long-time active member of Oiland Lutheran Church, Oiland Ladies Aid, and the Greenbush Senior Citizen Group. A devoted mother, she was an avid reader, loved visits, calls, and emails from her extended family, and enjoyed playing cards with her friends.

Deborah remembered her childhood neighbors farming with oxen and said, “I have lived from oxen to moon landings.”

Deborah Graff Sather is survived by her children, Pastor Alvin (Marcie) Sather of Greenbush, Eunice (Felix) Korczak of Greenbush, Dean (Carmen) Sather of Badger, MN, and Clark (Sandra) Sather of Mayville, ND, 10 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Sather, her parents, all seven siblings: Clarence Plush, Jude Bergan, Eleanor Hudson, Oscar, Hector, Juel and Ruben Graff, and three great-grandchildren: Cole, Gillian, and Tanner Udstrand.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, November 9 in Oiland Lutheran Church of rural Greenbush with Pastor Jim Christenson & Pastor LeRoy Flickinger, officiating. Lynn Balstad was the pianist and special vocal music was provided by Arlene Jenson and JoAnne Strandlund. Pallbearers were Aldyn, Ricky, Mitchell, Lynn, Michael & Ryan Sather, Mark & Gary Udstrand, Tracy Nelson and Heidi Whitchurch. Honorary Pallbearers were Deborah’s 24 Great-Grandchildren. Interment was in United Free-Bethania Lutheran Cemetery in Greenbush with Gieseke Funeral Chapel of Greenbush in charge of funeral arrangements.