Lottie Mary McGrane

LOTTIE MARY (WALKER) McGRANE March 30, 1917 – October 20, 2016       Lottie Mary (Walker) McGrane of Park Rapids died on October 20, 2016 at Diamond Willow in Park Rapids, MN at the age of 99 yrs, 6 months and 21 days.  She was born March 30, 1917 to Ernest L. Walker and Martha Ann (Smith) Walker on their farm near Sentinel Butte, ND. She graduated from Sentinel Butte High School and received a secretarial degree from the State School of Science, Wahpeton, ND in 1938.  She was employed as office manager for 15 years for the Farm Security and Farmers Home Administrations in Becker and Clay Counties.  She retired in 1954 to become a homemaker.       She married Virgil Roering in July 1942.  He died in October 1944.  She married Earl McGrane October 23, 1948 and lived in Moorhead, MN until moving to Park Rapids in 1960 where they operated McGrane Motors together with George and Barb McGrane. They were blessed with 4 wonderful children, David, Kathy, Patty and Tammy.       She was active in St. Peter’s Church serving on its parochial school board, as a trustee of the church council, a member of St. Theresa’s group, and Foresters. She was a charter member of the Happy Hour Homemakers Club for 56 years starting in1960.  Lottie was an avid gardener and loved helping her neighbors and anyone that needed help.  She grew up during the Depression in the dust bowl of western North Dakota, so she forever had the guideline of “waste not, want not”.  She made all Christmas and birthday presents, reused margarine wrappers, elastic, and buttons and lived her entire life by the quote “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”.  She took pride in being a thrifty homemaker and if she didn’t know how to do it, she figured it out. She chose to see the good in people and loved people for their faults. She never liked anything too perfect so we were the “perfect” family. She left her family with many “Lottie-ism’s” which will live on.  She took great pride in her four children and grandchildren:  Alison (Mike McClellan) McGrane of Colville WA, Shannon (Charles) Spalding of Anchorage AK, Colin McGrane of Shelton WA, Caitlin McGrane of Bellingham WA, Maggie (Josh) Wiederin of Duluth MN, Molly (Luke) Luther of Park Rapids MN, Tiffany Grell (Tommy Carey) of Fairfax CT, Noah Peterson, Hannah (Brian) Ziegler of Parkers Prairie MN,  Mattie (Preston Grutzmacher) Fox of Minneapolis MN, Ella Fox of Duluth MN, and John Fox of Duluth MN.       She is survived by son David (Sharon) McGrane of Colville WA, and daughters Kathleen (Larry) Grell of Park Rapids, Patricia (Howard) Peterson of Alexandria, Tammy (Dean) Fox of Duluth, 2 grandsons, 9 granddaughters, 6 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Beverly (McGrane) Olson of Tucson, and many beloved nieces and nephews.       She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl McGrane (August 2001), her grandson, Noah Peterson (August 2015), her brothers Walter, Joe and Eugene Walker and her sister Ethel Walker.            A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, October 28, 2016 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Deacon John Zinniel leading the service.  Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church, beginning at 10:00 AM.       In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Joseph’s Hospice.       To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com