Joanne M. Graves

Joanne Marie Graves, 65,  peacefully passed away on Friday, September 8th, 2023 at her home in Grand Forks, North Dakota after battling cancer.

Joanne was born April 23, 1958 in Stanley, North Dakota. She was the fourth daughter of Melvin and Avis Borst. She moved to Grand Forks in 1965 and attended Red River High School, from which she graduated in 1976. During and shortly after high school she worked for Farmer’s Union until she was united in marriage to Thomas Graves on September 24th 1977. Tom and Joanne built and managed a family-run laundromat in Grand Forks that they owned until 2008. Afterwards she briefly worked at the Altru hospital in Grand Forks before working for the East Grand Forks School District, where she retired in 2023.

Joanne loved all of the little things in life. She loved flowers, to decorate her home, shop for clothes and purses, to attend concerts or the casino, and to play cards with family members. Her family described her as the most stubborn person they met, and yet they would also say she had the biggest heart of gold. But most importantly, she always would help others and the ones that she loved.

She leaves behind her husband, Tom of forty-five years; two sons, Josh, and Jayson (Michelle) Graves both of Grand Forks; and her grand-daughters, Jordan Graves, and Taylor Hagen; her siblings, older sister, Barb Galloway of Wichita, Kansas, younger brother, Arden (Wanda) Borst, Grand Forks; sister-in-law, Betty Borst; and brothers-in-law, Steve Fish and Rod Kahler.

She is preceded in death by parents, Melvin and Avis Borst, two sisters, Beverly Kahler and Janet Fish, and brother, Alan Borst.

Memorials are asked to be directed to Altru Cancer Center or to Hospice of The Red River Valley.