Graber, Alta F. Kaufman (1915-2002)

Newton Kansan obituary: 2002 Aug 15 p. 2

Birth date: 1915 Jan 16

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Sep 2 p. 12

text of obituary:

ALTA F. GRABER

Alta F. Graber, 87, was born Jan. 16, 1915, to Harry E. and Annie (Boeckner) Kaufman at Crystal Springs in Harper County, Kan. At age 4 she moved with her parents to a farm outside Hesston. She attended Hesston Academy and earned her teaching certificate. She taught several years before marrying Milton C. Graber on Sept. 24, 1939. They made their home east of Hesston, where they always welcomed neighbors, relatives and friends.

She had a love of flowers and children. She was a faithful member of First Mennonite Church of Christian, where she taught children's Sunday school for nearly 30 years. In 1972 she began a flower shop in her basement. Later they moved the business to Hesston and named it Country Gardens, and the arrangements she created there were appreciated at weddings, funerals and special occasions for more than 17 years. In June 2001 they moved to Schowalter Villa in Hesston. She died Aug. 14, 2002.

Survivors include her children, Betty Hartzler and her husband, Ken, of Belleville, Pa., Jerry and his wife, Pat, of Versailles, Mo., and Jim and his wife, Ruby, of Newton; two sisters, Erma Miller of Filer, Idaho, and Fern Bontrager of Haven; two brothers, Floyd of Buhl, Idaho, and Glen of Elk Falls; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.