William “Bill” M. Griffith
William “Bill” M. Griffith, age 68, Graceville, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2024, at his home in Graceville, MN.
Visitation for Bill Griffith will be held Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Graceville Community Building.
Funeral services for William Martin Griffith will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the Graceville Community Building with Rev. David Tonn officiating. Please dress casually – Bill wouldn’t want everyone all “dressed up.”
William Martin Griffith was born May 6, 1956, to James and Marguerite (Moe) Griffith in Morris, MN. He attended school in Morris, graduating from Morris High School in 1974. He then graduated from the carpentry program at Alexandria VoTech.
On June 26, 1976, Bill married Debrah Gabler at the Osakis Lutheran Church. Bill was employed at Needham Construction, Graceville Lumber, Kampmeier Lumber, the Graceville Cabinet Shop, Rick’s Plumbing and Heating, did detailing at the Morris Auto Plaza, and worked at Sturdevant’s Auto in Wheaton, MN.
Bill dedicated 27 years of service to the Graceville Fire Department including 17 years as the Fire Chief. He also was a member of the Graceville Ambulance Service for 13 years.
Bill was a very talented woodworker. He made many beautiful pieces of furniture, small and large including shelves and bulletin boards. Any little thing you asked for he could make and would figure out how to do it to perfection. He was never without his measuring tape and pencil.
An avid gardener, Bill enjoyed doing lots of canning. He loved to give it to family and friends with nothing going to waste. He loved to cook and bake when time allowed. He made up many of his own recipes and for his yearly deer hunting trips up north he made a huge roaster of scalloped potatoes, with peas, much to the dismay of some of the hunters!
Bill fed the birds daily, and put out food for the squirrels, even though they stole the bird food. He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips with his buddies and in the last few years with the grandkids.
Bill enjoyed camping and took many yearly trips to state parks with his family cooking over the campfire, hiking, and just enjoying being together. In later years, he would set up the camper in the yard for the grandkids, and they even camped in the park in Glenwood.
He was proud of his girls, the women they grew up to be, and of their husbands as well as the grandchildren as they achieved things in life and attending whatever school functions that he could.
Survivors include his wife: Deb; daughters: Melissa (Cory) Logan and Tiffany (Jesse) Armstrong; four grandchildren: Brayden, Evan and Owen Armstrong and Aubree Logan; brothers and sisters: Rob (Rose) Griffith, Dan (Evelyn) Griffith, Connie (Ken) Wohlers, Nellie (Jim) Kern, Sandy Griffith Nellen, Renee (Dan) Devereaux, and Joe (Julie) Griffith; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Bill was preceded in death by his parent: Jim and Marguerite Griffith; brother: Pat Griffith; and parents-in-law: Ray and Pat Gabler.
Arrangements are with Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt, SD.
