Veneta Annie Bond passed away in Delta, CO on April 1st, 2026. She was born October 30th, 1934, in Ramah, New Mexico to her parents, Jessie Mae James and Charles Elwidor Bond. She was the fifth of seven children. The family lived on a small ranch three miles outside of the little Mormon pioneer community of Ramah, which is in the high desert foothills of the Zuni Mountains, situated between the Navajo and Zuni Reservations at an elevation of 7000 feet. It is a beautiful area, but also one with many hardships. Her playground was the hills, sandstone cliffs, pinon trees, rocks and rattlesnakes around their home. Her pioneer ancestors settled the area, and she grew up with faith in God and love of family. Annie also learned the meaning of loss, sacrifice and hard work. Her older sister passed away when she was quite young and her father died in a lumber mill accident when she was twelve. In her early years, she and her older brothers rode a horse to school, when they could catch it. The Indians often would come to get turkey feathers from them to make their headdresses. When she was about nine years old, she happened upon a big rattlesnake on the path from the barn to the house, so she went around it, got an axe from the house and then went back and took care of the snake. Annie said their home was always a happy place with music and fun until her father passed away, and then life became very hard for them as her mother had to care for them alone.

When Annie was sixteen, she met Jay Clawson Graff, who had come to Ramah to buy a horse from his uncle. That aunt and uncle always played for the weekly dances and talked Jay into staying an extra day and attending the dance the next night. Annie said he was tall, dark, and handsome. Jay eventually asked Annie’s mother if he could dance with her. A few months later he asked her to marry him and sent an engagement ring in the mail. They were married in the Mesa LDS Temple on May 8th, 1951. Their first home was in Olathe, CO where they began raising sheep before later starting a dairy farm. While living in Olathe they had four of their children, Cathy, Teddie, Jacky and Gary. After about eight years on that farm, they sold it to the LDS Grand Junction Stake and started over on a farm on the west side of the town of Delta, CO, on the inside of the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers. Carrie, Susanne, and Jared were born after that move. Together they built a beautiful dairy farm and raised their seven children. Annie joined Jay in working hard outside with the dairy and on the farm, while also raising children and working in her home. She drove tractors, fed the never-ending number of baby calves, chased horses and cows and worked with her husband every day of their 59 years together. In her home she was a wonderful homemaker and an amazing cook. There were always homemade meals including delicious fried chicken and roast beef dinners, fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, and pies. She always had a clean home and was always welcoming to others. They were together in all that they did … raising their family, working on the farm, racing horses and giving church service, up until Jay’s passing in 2010.

Annie was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served mostly in the Primary and Relief Society organizations and was always willing to help others. She and Jay taught their children to love the Lord and to always be appreciative for the blessings they had. She never said a bad word or had unkind words about anyone and always tried to see the good in others. She loved reading, especially her scriptures. She loved her grandchildren and wanted them to love their Heavenly Father, to have a good life and to be happy. Annie sacrificed her life for her family. She was a wonderful wife and mother and was always a great example of goodness, kindness, and love for others.

Annie is survived by three of her brothers, James (Cindy) Bond of Phoenix, AZ, Dennis (Charlotte) Bond of Livermore, CA, and Dyle (Margaret) Bond of Santa Clara, UT; and five of her children, Cathy (Keith) Anderson of Delta, CO, Ted (Tina) Graff of Delta, CO, Carrie (Von) Black of Monticello, UT, Susanne (Tom) Applegarth of Saratoga Springs, UT, and Jared (Jolie) Graff of Delta, CO; and 23 grandchildren, 51great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Elwidor and Jessie, her sister Odessa, brothers Arlo and Elwin, sisters-in-law Belva, Ellen, Cindy and Margaret, her husband Jay, her sons, Jacky and Gary, and one great grandson, Nixen.

Funeral services will be at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1679 Pioneer Rd, Delta, CO on Saturday, April 11th, 2026. There will be a viewing and time to meet the family at 9:30 am, and then the service at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at the Delta City Cemetery.