Grace M. Urdal passed away on June 12, 2017 at the age of 94. She was born on April 29, 1923 in Camrose, Alberta Canada, the youngest of John and Valborg Olson's nine children. In 1944, she married Lloyd B. Urdal. Their early years together included Lloyd's service as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII and a move to Chicago where Lloyd completed his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. In 1955, Lloyd and Grace moved their young family to Pullman, Washington where Lloyd pursued his academic career as a professor at Washington State University and Grace brought her secretary-clerical preparation to her role at WSU in the Human Resources Department. She also typed many a doctoral thesis during her years as a homemaker raising their four children: Joan, David, Valerie and Christy. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and its quilting group which sent hundreds of quilts to Lutheran charities world-wide. Grace's hobbies also included cooking, reading, and tending to her summer flowers. She was well known for her fresh cookies, flower gardens, and forever sending cards and letters to her beloved extended family and friends. In 2014, Grace moved to Seattle to reside at University House, Wallingford. Since then, she has spent cherished time with her four children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. There were many family celebrations at her favorite restaurant, Mama Melina's. Grace filled her life with love, kindness, good humor and devotion to her family. In every regard, she lived her life in accordance with her name: Grace. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Lloyd in 1996, her son-in-law Nels Kalhovde in 2013, and her eight siblings. She is survived by her children: Joan Kingrey and her spouse David; David Urdal and his spouse Shirley; Valerie Kalhovde; Christy Urdal and her spouse Lonnie; and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pullman, Washington on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to the WSU Foundation for the Lloyd and Grace Urdal Endowed Scholarship for Education, Attn: Andrea Farmer, PO Box 642114, Pullman, WA 99164; or to the University of Alberta Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alberta Canada.

Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com