Grace Westra

October 24, 1912 - April 14, 2017

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 21, at the West Lyons Township Cemetery, south of Nimrod, MN. Family and friends may gather at the cemetery on Friday one hour prior to the service. Grace, age 104, passed away on April 14, 2017 at the Fair Oaks Lodge, Wadena, MN. Grace Harms Westra was born to Charles and Grace (Graba) Harmes on October 24, 1912, on their homestead in Meadow Township, Wadena County, MN. Two brothers Lawrence and Alan completed the family. Grace graduated from Sebeka High School and finished her teacher training at Wadena Normal School and St. Cloud Teachers College, where she received her diploma. She taught school in Wadena County and later at Verndale Public School for three years. During the war Grace worked at Northwest Airlines, Holman Field in St. Paul. She installed oxygen in B24s. After the war, Grace was united in marriage with Harley E. Westra on June 18, 1955, at her parents’ home. In Zimmerman she helped Harley with his Foresters job by doing “tower duty”. They were transferred to Backus where she worked as a part-time postal clerk. Upon Harley’s death Grace moved to the Commercial Apartments in Wadena. Grace enjoyed reading, and was a member of the Rebecca Lodge, Methodist Women’s Circle and the Wadena Senior Citizens group. Grace was preceded in death by her husband Harley on December 16, 1987; her parents Charles and Grace; brothers Alan and Lawrence Harms; niece Dixie Lee Fosse; and great-nephew Kevin Fosse. She is survived by her great-nephews Todd (Pamela) Fosse and family, Troy Fosse and family; along with Goddaughter Grace (Marlyn) Horton and family; and numerous cousins. Pallbearers will be Todd Fosse, Troy Fosse, Charles Funk, Tyler Fosse and Jeremy Fosse. Memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross.