Norman Graf

Norman Graf, 96, passed away on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Bismarck, ND.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 14, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, followed by lunch.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Parkway Funeral Service.

Interment will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, March 14, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Norman, born Feb. 2, 1927, the 10th of 13 children to Rudolph and Eva (Oberlander) Graf, Newberry Township west of Medina. He attended school there through the seventh grade. At 15 his family relocated to Medina where he continued to work odd jobs and help with the farmstead.  In January 1945, while working at a meat processing plant in Fargo, Norm was drafted into the U.S. Army. There he attended telephone school and was chosen out of 500 applicants for the Armed Signal Core. He was awarded his SGT stripe on his way to Japan after spending almost a year in the Philippines.

On Nov. 25th, 1951, Norman married LeNora Klundt, together they were known as the “go to couple” for the community. They had three children and helped raise a niece and several nephews. Norman began working for Standard Oil in 1947, in 1977 he purchased the bulk plant from Amoco and changed the name to Graf Oil. He was an active 75-year member of the American Legion, AmVets, Lions, Eagles, Elks, Moose Clubs, and Medina Wildlife. He served 40 years with the Medina Fire Department, 17 years as Chief and was instrumental in restructuring the fire, rescue, and ambulance services there. In 1991, the couple moved to Bismarck to help raise their grandchildren. Norman earned his high school diploma and spent many hours volunteering for Veterans from WWII. He kept active and social late in life playing golf, bowling, dancing, and playing cards.  In 2009, he was proud to be selected for the first Honor Flight to Washington DC and called it the experience of a lifetime. Norman prided himself in helping others, he was a mentor to many and will never be forgotten by those who got the privilege to know him.

Norman was proceeded in death by his wife, LeNora (2010); parents; and 12 siblings.

Norman is survived by his children, Darrell, Jodi (Randy), and Libby (John); sister, Lucille; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  

Norm was a lifelong lover of dogs, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to your local animal shelter or the American Red Cross.