Russell Ralph Graham

Russell Ralph Graham, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on February 3, 2011.
He was born on May 5, 1927 in LaGrand, Oregon. He is survived by his wife, Doris Burnett Graham, his brother Wendell Graham, his children Rozalynne (Clair) Price, Sherrilee Lindbloom, Sue (Kent) Sapp, Max (Julie) Graham, Shannon (Tom) Zalanka, Mark (Janeen) Graham, Georganne (David) Simeoli, Phillip (Allison Graham), and foster daughter Carol (Rod) Yeager. He has 50 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Emma Graham, brother James Graham, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Throughout his life he was a hard working, highly respected man. He was an active member of the LDS Church. He served as a High Councilor, Stake Executive Secretary and Bishop in Denver, and a High Councilor in St. Louis, Missouri and Medford, Oregon. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and the Prophet Joseph Smith. He served honorably in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific and earned a degree in Forest and Wildlife Management from Utah State University. In his younger years, he worked as a forest ranger. With moves came career changes. He was a Regional Vice-President with Fidelity Investments in Denver, Colorado. In St. Louis, he was VP of Marketing for Edward Jones and traveled the country giving seminars. In Medford, Oregon he was a Regional Manager.
He was an active man who enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting. He loved teaching his grandchildren how to fish and taking them camping. He also enjoyed reading, playing softball, and vacationing with his family. In his retirement, he was a substitute school teacher in Idaho and Utah. Recently, he worked at the Lindon and Saratoga Springs Wal-Mart as a greeter where he loved the people he worked with and people he served. He possessed a rare down-to-earth honesty, sense of humor and wisdom that he delivered with humility and love. His memory and legacy will live on with all of us.
Family will receive guests for visitation and viewing from 10:00 to 11:40 a.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2011, followed by the funeral services at 12:00 p.m. Services will be at the Harvest Hills 1st Ward LDS Chapel, 270 West Harvest Hills Blvd. Interment will be in the Utah State Veterans Cemetery, 17111 S. Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.