Charles Roberts (Charlie) Graves, age 70, of Yankton, SD, passed away Friday, November 9, 2007, at the Northridge Care Center, New Hope, MN.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at the Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, with Kevin Graves, Kathy Dearling, and Butch Hladky officiating. Burial will be in the Greenhill Cemetery, Alexandria, SD at approximately 1:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Visitations will be 3 to 8 p.m. Monday (today), November 12, 2007 at the Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, and will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Scottie G. Ness, Kent Graves, Douglas Kokesh Jr., Donnie Hanzlik, Jon Vikse, Wayne Graves, and Christopher Vanjoske.

Charles Roberts Graves born January 23, 1937 to Charles Leslie and Verna Pearle Graves (Taylor) in Mitchell SD passed away November 9, 2007 at Northridge Care Center in New Hope MN.

Charlie was raised and helped run a dairy farm with his family in Ethan, SD. At the early age of 15 Charlie was called to be a minister of God's Word and began that ministry preaching at area nursing homes. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1955 and continued his education at Bible School in Sioux Falls, SD graduating in 1957.

Charlie met and married Doris Hammitt in June of 1957 and they continued their ministry pastoring churches in Atwood KS, Eureka CA, Sioux Falls SD, Yankton SD, Bruce SD, Sturgis SD, Pillager MN, Windom MN, back to Yankton SD and finally in Menno SD.

In addition to his ministry Charlie career included well drilling, bus driving, carpentry, hospital counseling, and writing. For the past 9 years he worked at Walmart in Yankton SD as a retail associate and greeter and touched many lives there.

Charlie and Doris expanded their family in the years to come with 2 children, Keetha and Chad. They were his blood children but if you were to look around him at any given time there were many more in his life time to call him "Dad"?Bob, Donnie, Kris, Lisa, Curt to name just a few.

The apples of his eye came in the last 21 years of his life through his 2 granddaughters Kelsey and Jessica. From their birth and every day forward until the last he was there to love, counsel and share in their lives. Again there are many more children that came to love him and call him "Grandpa"?Scotty, Ashley, Amber, Devon, Angelica, Levi, Ethan Charles, Jade and Jesse to name a few.

We celebrate Charlie's life as a minister, brother, father, grandfather, friend, companion and coworker as he spent his days following his call and blessing our lives with his wisdom and love.

He is preceded into death by parents Charles Leslie Graves, and Verna Graves, (Taylor) and brother William Graves.

He is survived by daughter Keetha (Vikse) Graves of Champlin, MN, and Son Chad and friend Bob Christopherson of Council Bluffs, IA. ; Granddaughters: Kelsey Vikse and( Scotty Ness) of Osseo, MN, and Jessica Vikse of Champlin, MN Brothers Richard and (Audrey) Graves of Ethan, SD; John and (Sarah) Graves of LaBolt, SD; Carl and (Mary) Graves of Rapid City, SD. He is also survived by many Nieces, Nephews, other family and friends.

Memorials may be made to the family.