GRACE (SMITH) WELGRAVEN

Grace (Smith) Welgraven was born to George and Johanna (Lolkus) Smith on September 23, 1938, in Fenton Township. She passed away March 10, 2026, at the age of 87 years. She attended Chandler Christian Elementary and graduated from Chandler High School in 1956. Grace was a lifelong professing member of the Chandler Reformed Church, serving as a Catechism teacher for several years, participating in ladies Bible studies, and a member of the Reformed Church Women.

Grace was united in marriage to Harold Welgraven on December 18, 1959, at the Chandler Reformed Church. While Harold served in the Army, they lived in Seaside, CA and then Tacoma, WA, where their first child, Joyce, was born. After Harold’s time in the army, they moved back to Minnesota where they soon became a family of five, adding Karen and Dennis. They lived on a farm by Lake Wilson until they moved to their family farm east of Chandler in 1969. Grace filled her role as a farm wife and homemaker well, as she milked cows, drove tractors, and everything in between.

When not busy on the farm, Grace could be found sitting at her sewing machine, making many Christmas and Easter dresses for her girls and granddaughters, and eventually some prom and wedding dresses. In her later years, Grace enjoyed embroidering many kitchen towels and sharing them with those she loved.

The grandchildren and great grandchildren always knew there would be a pan of bars, cookies, or another treat to enjoy when they visited. Everyone had their favorite homemade treats, and she eventually compiled them all into a cookbook called “Grandma’s Treasures.” The freezer was always stocked with “freezees” that she lovingly snipped the top off and wrapped in a paper towel, so little hands didn’t get cold.

Harold and Grace remained on the farm after retirement. As Harold’s health declined, Grace became his caretaker until his passing on July 19th, 2013, after 54 years of marriage. Grace remained on the farm until July 2024 when she became a resident of Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN.

Grace is survived by her daughters Joyce and Ed Stoel of Edgerton, Karen and Todd Langland of White, SD, and son Dennis and Roberta Welgraven of Chandler. Nine grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren. Sister-inlaws, Karen Smith and Lynn Smith, and many nieces and nephews.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, her parents, brothers, Adrian and Roger and sister, Nancy; one nephew, Heath Smith.