GORDON WILLARD GRAVES

MARCH 21 ^ST , 1936 – JUNE 19 ^TH , 2022

Funeral services for Gordon W. Graves, 86, of Pukwana SD will be held at the Pukwana Free Lutheran Church in Pukwana SD at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 24 ^th with burial in the Pukwana Cemetery at Pukwana, SD.   A visitation will be held at the Hickey Funeral Home on Thursday, June 23 ^rd from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

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Gordon lost his courageous fight with an illness that was more stubborn than he was on June 19 ^th , 2022 at the Sanford Hospital in Chamberlain SD.

Gordon was born in Platte, SD on March 21 ^st , 1936 to Willard and Fern (Johnson) Graves. He grew up on a farm northeast of Pukwana. He married Mary Bartlett on September 11 ^th , 1956 and they had seven children: Debra, Dwayne, Diane, Julie, Bart, Doris and Jim. Gordon was proud to be a Staff Sargent of the South Dakota Army Nation Guard in Chamberlain SD from 1954 – 1963 in the 200 ^th Engineering Unit.

The newlyweds lived on Alton Creamers farm where Gordon worked as his hired man for a few years. He bought his own farm east of his parents farm around 1960 and worked for his dad, Willard. Then he farmed for himself and sold Dr. McDonalds Feed for many years. Gordon semi-retired in 1995 and he and Mary moved to the town of Pukwana and was fortunate to buy the house he had always admired. He still drove out to the farm frequently with his beloved dog, Jake, to help his eldest son Dwayne, keep up with the ever demanding responsibilities of the farm.

Gordon 'accidently' picked up the hobby of restoring antique trunks and loved going to auctions all over the state to find his next project. He was very gifted in his talent for bringing the old to absolutely amazing. He worked in his basement workshop until his failing health inhibited him from making it down the stairs, then his attention focused on working on the yard and planting flowers.

Preceding in his death were his parents, his brother Gene Graves, and his sister Ardyce McManus.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Mary, daughters Debra Graves, Diane Bass, Julie Graves, and Doris (Tommy) Gray. Sons Dwayne Graves, Jim Graves, and Bart (Leah) Graves. Grandchildren Jeremy Peters, Levi Porter, Kasha Curl, Dustin (Amber) Pearson, Barry (Christy) Owen, Justus (Erin) Bass, Trinity (Danielle) Bass, Duran (Casie) Graves, Jayden Graves, Shay Graves  and her fiancé Brenden Entringer, Garret Graves, Alexandria Graves, Alexis Graves, Abigail Graves, sister-in-law Dianne Graves, all his great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A very special appreciation extended to the Pukwana Coop guys.