Alice Jane Graff

Alice Jane (Moe) Graff, 89, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Alice was born on March 30, 1937, in Grayling, Minnesota, to Jalmer and Helen Moe. She graduated from McGregor High School in 1955 and later earned her degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she discovered her lifelong love of teaching.

On June 11, 1960, Alice married her high school sweetheart, Robert Graff, in McGregor, Minnesota. Together they built a life filled with family, friendship, and service. During the early years, the couple lived in several places, including Fairbanks, Alaska; St. Petersburg, Florida area; and Houston, Texas, before returning to McGregor, where Alice continued her teaching career and became a beloved member of the community.

Teaching was more than a profession for Alice. It was a calling. Over the years, she touched the lives of countless students through her encouragement, creativity, masterful storytelling, and genuine care. She remained proud of her students and treasured the relationships she built throughout her teaching career.

Alice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church. She also generously gave her time to community service through the McGregor Lions Club, including 50 years with Bob in the corn feed prize booth.

Alice’s interests and joys were many:  A proud 100% Norwegian, she celebrated her heritage throughout her life.  She found great joy in planning family gatherings and cheering for all Minnesota sports, especially her beloved Minnesota Twins.  She treasured her Class of 1955 and her many friends.  Her favorite season was hunting season.  She loved hosting hunters, gathering them around the table, feeding them and listening to their wonderful stories, and adding a few of her own. Alice’s generosity extended far beyond her immediate family.  Over the years, she and Bob welcomed many relatives into their home, providing them with love, guidance, and a place where they always belonged.  She was known for her kindness, generosity, hospitality, organizational skills, warm smile, and unwavering commitment to those she loved.

Alice is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert Graff; her children, Curtis (Paula) Graff of Amery, Wisconsin, Dawn (Greg) Kirk of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Eric (Kim) Graff of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Shelley (Bill) Koerber of Climax, Minnesota; Grandchildren: Kirby, Andrew, Wyatt, Juliana, Emily, Ethan, Kaitlyn, Danielle, Clay, and Libby; Great Grandchildren: Leo, Marnie, Calvin, Nora, Isaac, Adeline, Christopher, and Daniel; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, former students, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheila Jane Graff; her parents; and her brothers, Louie, Alvin, Ed, and Gene Moe.

Alice's legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched as a teacher, mentor, church member, volunteer, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in McGregor, Minnesota. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM before the service. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery, and family and friends are invited to gather afterward for lunch and fellowship at the McGregor Community Center.

Let’s spend the day as Alice would: If you’re a Lion, we hope to see the vest. If you’re a Red Hatter, we’d love to see the hat.  If you’re Norwegian, we’d be delighted to see a sweater or a touch of Norwegian color. If you attended MHS, your Oriole or Mercury colors are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Grace Lutheran Church, the McGregor Lions Club, or the McGregor School Dollars for Scholars.

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