Bradley Graber
June 26, 1963 ~ December 22, 2020
Bradley Karl Graber, aged 57, passed away at his home in Fargo on December 22, 2020 after a two year battle with brain cancer. He was born and raised in Fargo, attending school at Hawthorne, Clara Barton, Aggasiz, and Fargo South. On May 9, 1992, he was united in marriage to Ruth Marie Denton. Brad was a loving and devoted husband and proud father of two.
Brad worked in restaurants and food service all his life. He held various positions from dishwasher to cook to kitchen manager. Local restaurants on his resume include Fargo Cork and Cleaver, Peppers Cafe, The VIP Room, and most recently Prairie St. Johns Hospital. Every group of coworkers became like family to him as they were all valued and respected.
He was a lifetime member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and volunteered his time and energy in practically every capacity possible except serving as clergy. (Over the years he actually did give a couple of sermons!) He loved music and singing in the choir. His rendition of “O Holy Night” was incredible!
He loved history and was viewed as the unofficial historian of St. Mark’s. He also loved photography and videography. Brad was an enthusiastic supporter, volunteer, and community advocate for justice in the community, including work with groups such as Churches United for the Homeless and the Pride Collective and Community Center.
Brad was much loved in the community for his kind heart, gentle nature, infectious sense of humor, willingness to listen, enduring friendships, and his ability to help others realize their goals. Some have referred to him as “the gentle giant” and feel he was like family. His gifts, his talents, his compassion, and his humor will be missed by many.
Brad is survived by his loving wife Ruth; his mother, Connie Graber, Detroit Lakes; brother Jim (Kari), Fargo and sister Kate (Barb), Fargo; his children Sarah Graber, Grand Forks and P.J. Graber, Fargo. He is also survived by multitudes of family members, some of them by blood, some of them by choice.
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So sorry for your loss Connie, Kathy, Jimmy and Brad’s family. May God comfort you in the days and months ahead!!! Blessings to ALL of you!!!
So sorry to hear the loss of Brad.
Many fond memories from way back in the neighborhood growing up to present.
A well loved personality and friend to many
I worked with Brad back in the 90’s at Peppers. A kind, gentle and good man. He will be missed.
Words can’t tell the story of Brad, as he was SO much more than can be described. The soul of Brad was bigger than life. He so graciously shared that with anyone. True to his beliefs…true to his family…true to his friends/coworkers…true to himself Heaven’s a MUCH richer place now! Always grateful to say Brad was my friend…ALWAYS!
Ruth, Sarah, and P.J. So very sorry about Brad. Enjoyed working with Brad at the VIP. My best always, Helen
Gentle giant indeed. Brad was smart, funny and kind. He will be missed by many.
I never met Brad, but I know I would have liked him. Please know I am thinking of you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
What a wonderful tribute to a remarkable man. Our sympathies to all the family. Love you
So sorry to hear about Brads passing..Cherish all the beautiful memories..
So sorry to hear of Brad’s death. I will always remember him as a kind and gentle man who lived everyone. May he be at rest an d celebrating Christmas with Jesus. Blessings and peace.
All our love to you Ruth. I will miss Brad. You are in our prayers. Jim
We are so very saddened by the loss of such a wonderful man. My heart is breaking for Ruth, Sarah and PJ. My comfort comes in knowing Brad now resides in heaven. I pray comfort and peace for all of Brad’s family and friends. This world was a better place because of his time here on earth. Much love from All of our hearts.
Sorry for your loss. Brad was a great guy. He will be missed, but his memory will live on forever.
A light in so many lives and the father of my dreams. Rest In Peace you beautiful soul and fly higher than the trees.
I’m so sorry to hear about Brad’s passing. He was a kind and wonderful man. (Good memories from my days at St. Mark’s…) Love, prayers, and blessings to you all. Always, B.J. Newman
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers!
Ruth, Sarah,PJ, we are all saddened by hearing of Brads passing. He was such a wonderful person! From being a great chef, to a awesome dad and loving husband. As well as a great teacher of making the best sloppy joes a Girl Scout could make! He truly was a gentle giant. Always willing to help anyone. Cassidy and all of us send your family our sincere condolences and prayers. You all have a great Angel protecting you from heaven. Peggy, Ron, Cassidy & Landon Johnson
Ruth and family,
Wishing that the many fond memories you have of Brad brings you comfort during this difficult time. Glad we had the time to reminesce when Brad was in Mayo the same time as Duane. Now they are together in their heavenly home. God saw Brad was tired and knew there was no cure so wrapped His arms around Brad and whispered, “Come with me.”
Sandie Fast
What a precious man Brad was! So sorry for your loss at this time. Jean and I have such wonderful memories of your family when we were kids.
Ruth, PJ and Sarah,
I’m thinking of you all as you gather today to celebrate Brad. I learned more about him from the obituary but ‘gentle giant’ seems an accurate description. And kind. Peace be with you.
Sonja
Our sincere sympathy to Brad’s family. Sarah is a friend of our son, Jake, and she’s always been like a daughter to us. Brad will be dearly missed by all who knew him. You’re all in our prayers.
Leon & Karen Andersen
Brad was one of the first people to greet my family when we joined St. Mark’s Church and had a way of making a person feel as if they had been part of his faith family all of their lives. Brad was a wonderful person and we were blessed to have known him even if just for a short while. Prayers to Ruth, Sarah, PJ and family during this most difficult time.
Oh my goodness. What a wonderful video. I am so sorry for your loss. He fought so hard and so did you, Ruth and the rest of the family too I am sure. My heart is breaking for all of you. I am thinking of you and praying.🙏
I sure am going to miss my old friend. My deepest condolences to all of you.
RIP Uncle Brad❤️
Blessings and peace to the Graber family.
I felt honored to play the prelude and postlude for the service for Brad today. He was such a wonderful guy and I loved working with him at St. Mark’s. He was the bell ringer for every service and we could depend on him to be there to pull the rope. I also played for Brad and Ruth’s wedding shortly after I became the organist at St. Mark’s. After the children became of piano lesson age, I taught both of them for several years. Brad was also able to sing several solos during our church services which were so enjoyable along with his talent in singing with the choir. We will surely miss him in every way. May he be “singing” in heaven!
My deepest sympathy to you Ruth and family,
I have such good memories of Brad from singing with him in the choir, seeing him at church and remembering Leo working on maintenance problems at the church (especially the boiler!}and Leo saying what a gifted young man he was.
We will miss Brad in church and I will miss him working on mosaics, he truly was a gentle giant. We feel privileged to have known Brad and Ruth.
Joe Larson just did a wonderful service, we enjoyed Jims words and Brackens words.
Blessings to you Ruth and family
My thoughts and prayers are with you all, I really loved the photo tribute. I will miss Brad very much and am so fortunate that I was able to spend time living in Fargo to create such wonderful memories with the Grabers. Love you.
Brad Graber was real people. His caring, friendship, devotion, and dedication to a life of service and love were obvious to us. He was a great example of how its not nearly as important what you do as it is how you do it. Our hearts ache at his passing; and yet smile in remembrance of him. Brad was an awesome guy, and a good ‘picker’. We love you, Ruth; Sarah, PJ; and share your grief. 💔
I watched the Funeral/Celebration for Brad. It was wonderful. I thought Brad’s younger brother was just great. Nobody like a brother was his theme and I smiled. I loved the closing poem and the phrase,”Or you can cherish his memory,” spoke to me. I did not know that Brad was a talented soloist and I learned many other beautiful things about him. What a lovely man and I know his memory will be cherished by all who loved him.
I’ve known Brad and Jim since we were kids, our dads having worked together at WDAY. Brad was very influential and important in my early films starting in high school and thru the years. I remember when he asked Rich Alger and I to help entertain the St. Marks Renaissance Christmas event with some sword dueling we had been doing in our film. We had a blast as did everyone there. Brad was always an extraordinarily kind man who cared deeply for his friends and family. He will be sorely missed in this world of ours.
Brad will be missed. It was a beautiful service for a great person that others could count on.
Our sympathies are with you and yours!! Sorry for your loss. He was always so kind and helpful in church. Thoughts and prayers are with you.. Dennis and Joan Ness
To Ruth and Brad’s entire family, my heart breaks for you. Brad was such a genuinely good and compassionate person. I will miss his gentle voice and spirit.
My dear Ruth I am so sorry to hear of your husband’s death. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Absolutely beautiful ceremony and celebration of his life!
Ruth, our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. May your memories bring you peace and comfort.
Ruth, so sorry for your loss. I remember when you and Brad were dating and then getting married. So happy you two have two children. Take comfort from your children and and other family and friends. He definitely sounded like a very giving and remarkable man
our thoughts and prayers are with you
Ruth and family, I am so sorry for the loss you’re experiencing. May all of the fun and loving memories you have comfort you, not only now but forever. Carrying you in my thoughts.
You have my deepest sympathy. I’m so glad that Brad was surrounded by family and friends at the end. Keep your favorite memories close to your heart and Brad will always be with you.
Beautiful service for a wonderful man! Thinking of you all – prayers and hugs sent –
So sorry to hear of Brad’s death. My sympathies and prayers to the family! Good memories from the old 7th street neighborhood!