Jeanan Helen (Bortz) Graham (April 6, 1936 – February 27, 2026)
Born on April 6, 1936 to Lester and Helen Bortz in Great Bend KS, the 1st of 7 children. Her family later moved to Canon City, CO where her father ran and owned several gas/service stations. Jeanan would say she developed a good work ethic as she helped around the station. In her early teens Lester developed Polio and would have several months of hospital and home care while he worked to learn to walk with braces on his legs. This may have spurred her desire to become a nurse.

She would meet her husband, Gene, in Denver CO while she was in college. She had a friend who was a niece of Winona Graham (Gene's mother)……and would study at their home, running into Gene at the Graham home. A blind date with Gene would turn into a wedding 6 months later – and they would go on to be married for 61 years – married on June 30, 1957 in Denver CO. They would later move to Boulder CO where Gene began his career with the United States Postal Service.

Jeanan worked as a nurse for a few years and became a full time mother shortly before the twins (Gary and Sheila) were born in 1966. When Gene was promoted to US postal inspector they moved the family from Boulder CO to Aberdeen SD…..in the dead of winter. Gene was out of town for most of a 3 month period (for his training) and she had a lot to deal with in this new place with her four children (Rich, Sandy, Sheila and Gary). They would move twice in 18 months in Aberdeen – then moved to Rapid City SD where they would stay for about 9 years – moving to Apple Valley MN in 1980.

Jeanan went back to work as a nurse in Rapid City and was promoted to supervisor of nursing. She was a dedicated nurse and always stayed busy – if patients didn't keep her busy there was always cleaning to do. She had a tremendous work ethic and empathy for her patients. She would continue her nursing career in Apple Valley until she retired at 62.

She and Gene loved the outdoors and would spend many long weekends camping in the Black Hills SD area. They enjoyed fishing and water skiing in the summer/ snow skiing in the winter. Jeanan learned to water ski even though she didn't know how to swim – that's what life jackets are for! Their love for the outdoors would continue when they lived in Minnesota as well as spending time with their grandchildren and later great grandchildren.

Jeanan is preceded in death by her husband, Gene; her parents Lester and Helen Bortz; her daughter in law Mary Jo Graham; her sister Elaine Page; her brothers Galen(Hank) Bortz, Ronald Bortz, and Dale Bortz. Survived by her sister Julie Wilson and brother Duane Bortz, sons Rich (Lorna) Graham, Gary (Sue) Graham, daughters Sandy (Mike) Watts and Sheila (Bob) Sherry; 6 grandchildren Marcus (Jaylena) Graham, Desiree (Justin) Spratt, Jason (Heather) Graham, Shane Graham, Nick Watts and Alex Watts; 10 great grandchildren Jackson Spratt, Marcus Spratt, Bennett Spratt, Graham Spratt, Charles Graham, Christian Graham, Abigail Graham, Anthony Graham, Michael Graham and Anika Graham.Jeanan will be interned at the Acacia Park cemetery, Mendota Height MN, next to her husband, Gene.