Beverly J. Graplar
FAIRMONT — A service celebrating the life of Beverly J. Graplar, 67, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at St. James Lutheran Church in Northrop, Minn. Burial will follow the service at the St. James Lutheran Church Cemetery near Northrop. Beverly passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems-St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, Minn. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Beverly Jean (Swift) Graplar was born Jan. 26, 1956, at Fairmont Community Hospital in Fairmont, Minn., the daughter of Donald Alvin and Mary Ann (Koeritz) Swift. Bev lived with her family in Northrop where she attended grade school at St. James Lutheran School before attending high school in Fairmont where she graduated from Fairmont High School. She would go on to further her education attending Rochester Community College where she earned an AA degree.
Bev worked for the family business, Swift Systems, for many years while also working as a bus driver for Martin Luther and St. James Lutheran Schools. She had a passion for helping others and served her community as a first responder caring for those who were in need at a moment’s notice. Bev also worked at the Granada Café in Granada where she bonded and formed a special friendship with Sandy Cooley.
In her youth, Bev enjoyed playing softball and could be found cheering on the Minnesota Twins and rooting for #24 Jeff Gordon to win the NASCAR race that weekend. She found great peace in nature and looked forward to time spent in Duluth at the canal watching the ships come in and listening to the waves hit the rocks and the seagulls circling above. Bev loved spending time with family, especially at family reunions and was always up for a game of cribbage. Bev had a quiet and strong faith and looked forward to reading her daily devotion in the Portals of Pray booklet. She created many special friendships throughout the years and cherished her friendship with the late Bonnie Lenz who helped her though some of life’s difficult moments.
Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Dereck Graplar and his wife, Kelly of Spencer, Iowa and Ryan Graplar and his wife, Jodi of Truman, Minn.; grandchildren, Shawn Graplar, Kayla Graplar and Aaron Graplar; siblings, Pat (Art) Sohre, Steve (Lisa) Swift and Tim (Michelle) Swift; sister-in-law, Karen Swift; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Swift and Mary Ann Harder; stepfather, Mel Harder; infant brother, Larry Swift; and a brother, Dan Swift.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net
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