Eleanor McGraw

Eleanor A. McGraw, age 86, of Litchfield, died June 17, 2010 at Bethany Home in Litchfield. A Celebration of her Life will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Augustana Memorial Chapel with Pastor Christa Forsythe officiating. Eleanor Amy (Nystrom) McGraw was born and raised in Greenleaf Township. Her parents, John & Amy (Roman) Nystrom lived the lifestyle where God was foremost in their lives. Eleanor would share this faith in God and would belong to several area churches during her lifetime. She was baptized, confirmed in the Litchfield Mission Covenant Church. Upon marriage she joined the Episcopal Church and after returning to Litchfield later on in her life (1991) she joined the First Lutheran Church. Eleanor grew up in a loving and caring family. At eighteen months of age Eleanor contacted polo (at that time it was called infantile cholera.) Eleanor had a limp all of her life, but with parents and siblings she was provided 24 hour care. Therefore, a limp was a privilege granted instead of a wheelchair. At fourteen years of age her parents moved off the farm to Hutchinson, MN. Three years later Eleanor and her parents moved back to Litchfield. After high school she worked for the County Superintendent of Schools. She later moved to Minneapolis where she was payroll clerk for Riling Arno for the WWII War Workers. The opportunity to work at The Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis came up and she took the job and remained there until her marriage. On December 19, 1945 she married John (Tom) McGraw. From this union five children were born. In 1957 the family moved to Seattle, WA. When all the children were in school, Eleanor went to the Seattle Community College Night School to refresh her office skills. She then applied for work at the Seattle Public Schools. She was placed at Roosevelt High School until her retirement. In 1991 her husband died. She came back to Litchfield to care for her sister, who was ill. Upon her sister’s death, Eleanor went back to Seattle, sold her home, and moved to Litchfield to the small town lifestyle, which suited her. Eleanor missed her children, and grandchildren as they all lived far away. However, she felt a strong closeness and love to all regardless of the miles. Preceded in death: Husband: John (Tom) McGraw, Son: John D. McGraw, Parents: John and Amy Nystrom. Brothers: Elroy and Willard (Shorty) Nystrom, and Sister: Evelyn (Nystrom) Wendland. Eleanor is survived by three sons: James (Pati) McGraw, Paul McGraw & Mark (Kim) McGraw, one daughter: Mary (Jeff) Ralston, and one daughter-in-law: Lynne (Deegan) McGraw. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.