Gracia Naomi Blees

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gracia Naomi Blees (née Dyrud), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, counselor, and faithful friend. Gracia died at home in Littleton, Colorado, on February 1, 2026, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on June 1, 1949, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and grew up on a farm in Newfolden, Minnesota, where her strong faith and curiosity about the wider world first took root.

From an early age, Gracia felt called beyond the familiar horizons of rural Minnesota. After attending Bible school in Los Angeles, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from the University of Minnesota. It was there, in a racquetball class—taken by Gracia to fulfill a physical education requirement and by Bob because he loved sports—that she met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Blees. Bob thought he was meeting someone athletically inclined, but what he discovered instead was a woman of deep faith and a generous spirit, ready to follow God’s leading into a life of shared adventure. They were married on August 11, 1974, beginning a partnership marked by faith and shared purpose.

Gracia and Bob welcomed their first two children, Maria and Elisabeth, before serving as missionaries in Liberia from 1980 to 1990. During their decade in Liberia, Gracia was a steady source of encouragement to many families, and their family grew with the births of their third and fourth children, Kari and Michael. Her time there reflected a lifelong pattern: showing up for others with empathy, steadiness, and love.

After returning to the United States, the family settled in Tega Cay, South Carolina. Gracia earned a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Winthrop University in 1996 and began her own counseling practice. Over the years, she changed the lives of countless couples, families, and individuals, including many children and teenagers she encountered through her work and through her children’s schools. She was also part of a crisis counseling network, offering care to individuals in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events, including serving as a counselor for survivors of US Airways Flight 1549 following its emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009.

In 2016, Gracia moved to Littleton, Colorado, to be near her grandchildren. Being present with family brought her great joy, and her home continued to be a place of welcome. Throughout her life she was widely known as a gifted baker and cook of comfort food, an exceptional host, and someone who made people feel at ease around her table. Over the years, she welcomed many houseguests and hosted countless meals, believing deeply in the power of shared food and shared life.

Gracia was known above all for her strong Christian faith and her love of God, which shaped both her personal life and her professional calling. She cared deeply about family relationships and devoted her life to helping people build stronger, healthier connections. One piece of advice she offered often—whether about coworkers, friends, or adult children—was simple and profound: “Enjoy them and find them interesting.” It was advice she lived out daily.

Gracia’s compassion, wisdom, hospitality, and steadfast faith will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her loving husband, Robert Blees; her children Maria (Marco), Elisabeth (TJ), Kari Herrman (Jason), and Michael (Aly); her grandchildren Levi, Owen, and Micah Herrman; as well as her siblings and many nieces and nephews.