Roland “Rollie” Graham passed peacefully into the arms of his heavenly Father at the age of 86 in Helena, Montana. A celebration of Rollie’s life will be held Friday, August 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Retz Funeral Home in Helena. Interment at Fort Harrison will follow at 1:00 p.m.
Rollie was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 12, 1930, to Arthur George Graham and Amelia Martina Bille Graham. As a child, he spent many summers with his maternal grandparents in Balfour, North Dakota, and Rollie loved to recount the dusty hot summer days on the plains. He graduated from South High School in Minneapolis in 1948, and attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Administration, during which time he served in ROTC. In 1952 he began two years of active duty in the United States Navy as an ensign, and spent ten months patrolling the waters off of Korea during the Korean conflict. His combat experience consisted of his ship moving too close to shore, and being hit by an artillery round. He fondly would recall the “noodle runs” when his ship would run short of supplies. Upon his return from active duty, he married Shari Jones. They spent the first year of their marriage in San Diego while he completed his final year of active service, then moved back to Minneapolis where Rollie spent the next three years attending the University of Minnesota School of Law, serving on the Law Review, and graduating with a juris doctorate in 1957. While raising their three children, Rollie began his law career as in-house counsel for the Milwaukee Railroad, and in 1959 began a nearly 20-year career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis where he served for a number of years as general counsel as well as senior vice president. In 1979, Rollie and Shari moved to Elm Grove, Wisconsin where Rollie worked for First Wisconsin Holding Company as in-house counsel, moving back to Minneapolis in 1984 where he practiced law until 1999. He moved to Helena, Montana with his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Gabe Woodrow, and eventually becoming bored with retirement and missing the practice of law, he sat the Montana bar exam. At the age of 72, Rollie was proudly admitted to the Montana State Bar. Shortly after, he began a ten-year “second” law career as of-counsel with the law firm Gough, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman in Helena, finally retiring at the age of 82.
Rollie loved the practice of law but, even more so, he loved his family and cherished his friends and colleagues. Special memories are of camping trips in the Boundary Waters along the Minnesota-Canada border; summers spent boating, fishing, and water skiing; years of piano, trumpet and percussion recitals, band and choir concerts, and dance recitals; Boy Scouts and coaching little league baseball games and watching synchronized swimming and school theater productions; raising Brittany Spaniel puppies; winter skiing in Colorado and Montana; cross country skiing in the Twin Cities’ parks; bicycling in the Upper Peninsula; family road trips to Texas, Montana, and Alberta, Canada; golfing; and even a few brief years attempting to master photography. He relished his visits to Atlanta and Dallas to spend time with children and grandchildren; his several trips to Great Britain and Europe; a trip to Beijing with an international group of lawyers; and time spent with dear friends and neighbors of daughter Susan during her years in North Wales, UK, Jackie and Peter Bird. He was a role model, willing audience and constant friend to grandchildren Graham and Lauren who were privileged to have Grandpa ever present as they were growing up.
During these years, Rollie gave back generously to the community with his time and talents. When his family was young, Rollie served in the Optimist Club setting up and manning Christmas tree lots for several years. He found great satisfaction and joy as an active member of Rotary Club, first in Minneapolis for a number of years, and then in the Rotary Club of Helena from 2002 until his passing.
Rollie is survived by his daughter Susan (Gabriel) Woodrow of Helena, son Ken (Barbara) Graham of Marietta, GA.; son Tom Graham of Frisco, TX; grandchildren Graham (Brandi) Kilgariff of Helena; Lauren Gallagher of Helena; Kelly Graham of Marietta, GA; Garrett, Erin, Liam and Ireland Graham of Frisco, TX; great grandchildren Tristan Gallagher, Ky Halubka and Connor Kilgariff of Helena; step grandchildren Jason (Erin) Woodrow of Helena; Jeff Woodrow of Helena; and James (Samantha) Woodrow of Lenexa, KS; step-grandchildren Alexis, Lili and Lindsey of Lenexa, KS; and cousin Carol Tiffen of Palm Springs, NV.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Amelia Graham; and brothers, Arthur Jr. and Ernest Graham.
A Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday August 12th at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Avenue. A reception will follow at Retz. Burial with military honors will follow the reception at Montana State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Rollie’s name to the Helena Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 333, Helena, Montana 59624. Please visit below to offer a condolence or to share a memory of Rollie.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
10:30 a.m.
Friday August 12, 2016
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Reception
Following the service
Friday August 12, 2016
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Burial
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 12, 2016
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison , Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
10:30 a.m.
Friday August 12, 2016
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Reception
Following the service
Friday August 12, 2016
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
Burial
1:00 p.m.
Friday August 12, 2016
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison , Montana
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Jackie Bird says
I will always miss Rollie and I wish I could be present at the Memorial Service. My thoughts will be on him and also on all the family who will miss him so very much.
A very dear friend and much loved.
Jackie
Dick and Betty says
Hello Susan, Ken, and Tom,
Reading the thoughtful and moving eulogy to Rollie brought me back to all the wonderful times we had together. We go all the way back to high school with Sheri; with Rollie when they got married. They engineered a surprise visit to San Diego for Betty when I was serving in the Marines and mentored us through the labyrinth to get off base housing. There were the years of going to the last away Gopher football game each year. There were many memorable camping trips to Namakan that we enjoyed together. Rollie got me interested in the Optimist club.
We lost touch although I knew he moved to Helena to be near Sue. Sometimes it takes a look through the eyes of someone else to appreciate all a friend accomplished and the legacy left behind.
Love to you three,
Dick and Betty Hurley
John Johnson says
Sue I want to express my sincere sympathy to you and your family. Rollie was a great person to know and work with at the Mpls. FRB. I also enjoyed seeing him in Helena when he moved out there to be with you and your family. I know he will be missed by many since his life touched so many different people. I pray for God’s comfort and peace as you adjust to this loss.
With our Love,
John and Sandra Johnson
gordon lindberg says
to the family of Rollie Graham —- I was a fraternity brother of Rollie’s and thoroughly
enjoyed his friendship and brotherhood during our college years and at fraternity functions
in more recent years— those of us who stayed in the twin cities would meet frequently
and try to maintain contact with brothers who had moved away so we were aware that he
had moved to Montana to be close to his family — we are saddened by his loss and
extend our deepest sympathies to his family —-
Gordon lindberg
Jim Hammill says
Sue and Family,
Sorry to learn of Rollie’s passing. Rollie’s office was near the one I shared at the Bank’s Fifth and Marquette location when I came to the Bank in 1960. He always had a ready smile and a hearty ” Hi Jim” along with observations about life and living that were invariably humorous and insightful. My memories of Rollie encounters all are good.
My sympathy to you and yours.
Sheldon Azine says
Sue and Family,
I was saddened to hear of Rollie’s passing. He was my boss, my mentor, but most of all, a dear friend who will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Sue, I remember our last visit when you accompanied Rollie to a General Counsel Panel in August, 2012 at the Bank. His reminiscences about his time at the Fed of Minneapolis were enjoyed by all who attended. In Yiddish, the word “mensch” means “a person of integrity and honor.” Those words truly describe Rollie. Carolyn and I extend our deepest sympathies to your family.
Dave Van Nice says
My father, Clem Van Nice, was especially fond of Rollie. They worked together at the Federal Reserve and he was always quoting something important and wise that Rollie had come up with.
RIP Rollie.
Niel Willardson says
Dear Sue and Family,
My deepest sympathies to your entire family. Rollie was a wonderful man, and always had a kind word for his colleagues here at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. I was honored to host Rollie at an historic general counsel panel back in 2012, including Mel Burstein, Shel Azine, and Rollie, where more than 50 years of legal history were represented. Rollie’s recall of his twenty years with us with nothing short of amazing. His oral history helped many of us fill in some key history gaps that would otherwise be lost. Finally, I always appreciated Rollie’s kind words and encouragement. Truly a great man and scholar.
Niel Willardson
Steve Johnson says
Sue and family
What a great friend to have had over the years. Still smile about his trip to Vienna and numerous other times he lightened my mood. He lived a fine life!
Carol Tiffin says
Rollie was my wonderful first cousin and I will miss him dearly. Since I live in California, we didn’t see each other as often as I would have liked but we did talk regularly on the phone.
He and his brother Arthur, enjoyed coming to Lake Tahoe to visit me and we would always have fun playing the slots, sightseeing or going to a show. They were both at the lake visiting me during the dreadful day of 9/11 as we watched the news in disbelief that such a tragedy could happen in our country. I also enjoyed my visits for family get-together’s at the Woodrow Ranch which was always such a treat. He loved his family dearly and spending time with them was very important to him. He also loved his career as an attorney as well as being active in the Rotary Club. My heart goes out to Sue, Gabe, Ken, Tom and the rest of his wonderful family. Rest in peace Roland until we meet again.
Tone Blare says
His work was great. He had one of the best moments in law when he was testifying for the federal reserve case on February 11th 1970 that will be recorded in history books and create future policies for Americans
Dr. Elfriede Schmidt says
Rollie was a great man, a wonderful person: HE WAS A “MENSCH”! Rest in peace!
Elfriede from Graz – Vienna – Austria