Dec. 7, 2022

Mark Graham, founder of Bell Inc. and a community philanthropist, has died.

He was 77.

Graham grew Bell from a small carton shop with one full-time and two part-time employees when he bought it in 1976 to one of the largest independent manufacturers of folding cartons in the United States.

“Mark leaves an impressive lasting legacy as a result of his vision and inspired leadership,” according to his obituary. “His energy to constantly make things better led to game-changing industry innovations. He took brave, calculated risks to compete in business and make life better for his family. He had a big, bold personality and built countless strong relationships in business and in life.”

Graham’s mantra was “Say what you do, and do what you say,” the obituary continued, because it was “his way of telling everyone that his intention was pure and his word was always good and that he expected the same from them.”

He began his career as a brakeman for Burlington Northern Railway and then worked in retail sales and insurance before responding to a newspaper ad that led him to buy the business.

While at Bell, he led decades of growth until his retirement in 2010, receiving two patents for breakthroughs in fresh-pork packaging. He continued serving on the board until this year.

He and his wife, Patrice, also have supported many community giving efforts, and he was especially drawn to causes supporting children, animals and the arts. They were the founding benefactors of the Graham Academy Preschool at the Washington Pavilion and supporters of the Sioux Empire United Way, South Dakota Symphony, Ronald McDonald House and Arnolds Park Amusement Park at Lake Okoboji.

For a complete obituary and information on services, click here.