Sidney "Sid" Graser, 82, of Pinewood, died Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at the Meadowlands Elder Care facility in Tenstrike.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Country Faith Church in Clearbrook with the Rev. Jim Binder officiating. The Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji assisted the family with arrangements.
He was born May 18, 1925, to James and Agnes Graser in Pinewood. He attended elementary school in Pinewood and high school in Bemidji. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a medic in Japan during World War II, where he achieved the rank of sergeant major. Upon returning from the war, he bought and operated the Solway Tavern with his mother and siblings. During this time, he also completed a bachelor's degree in education at Bemidji State University. Upon graduation, he taught high school science, English and special education classes in Minnesota, Nevada, and California over the next 14 years. His first marriage was to Dorothy Wilkins of Park Rapids. He later married Margaret DeMaster of Bijou in 1956. He spent his final years with his long time friend and companion, Mary Rouse. He retired from teaching in 1971 and bought the Shamrock Motel in Bagley. He went on to own and operate two additional motels in Bagley and Barstow, Calif., as well as laundromats in Bemidji and Orange, Calif. He was an avid collector of classic cars. He also enjoyed the outdoors, poetry and traveling the country in his motor home.
He is survived by his sons, James (Sandy) of Redlands, Calif., Timothy (Shirl) of Spring Valley, Minn., Steven of Pinewood, Sidney (Michele) of San Diego, Calif., and Scott of Pasadena, Calif.; daughter, Janine of Riverside, Calif.; second wife, Margaret; sisters, June Kellerman of Tenstrike, Rose Larson of Wilton; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rita; brothers, William, Robert; son, Randolph; and first wife, Dorothy.
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Online guestbook is at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com .
