Betty McGraw

Betty Ruth McGraw, 83, of Burnsville, MN died Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, AZ surrounded by her family. Funeral Services will be held at 1 PM, Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services and stay for a luncheon following. Interment will take place at the Dykeman Union Cemetery in Garrison, MN.

Betty was born in 1927 in Sioux Falls, SD, the daughter of Herman and Beatrice (Brooks) Schmaltz. At an early age, Betty and her family moved to Hillman, MN. Betty met her husband, Jim McGraw, in 1967 through her sister and brother-in-law. Betty and Jim purchased a home in South Minneapolis where they lived with Betty's children from a previous marriage. In addition to raising her family, Betty also worked for a Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. In 1991, Jim and Betty began wintering in Mesa, AZ.

Betty enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting and Swedish weaving. She loved her Minnesota Twins team. Her family and friends will remember Betty as a loving, caring person who always had a smile on her face. She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; sons, Bruce Winter and David (Mary) Winter; and daughters, Sue Winter, Tina Wagner and Beth Mohowk. Betty was blessed with eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert and Rudy; and sister, Hazel.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to your favorite charity in memory of Betty.