Exhibit 23

Independent Auditors' Consent

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
333-17691  on Form S-8 (the  Company's  Long  Term  Stock  Incentive  Plan),  in
Registration  Statement No. 333-17787 on Form S-8 (the Company's  Employee Stock
Purchase  Plan),  in  Registration  Statement  No.  33-54205  on Form  S-8  (the
Company's  Nonemployee  Director Stock Plan) and in  Registration  Statement No.
333-03459 on Form S-8 (the Company's  Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan) of
our report dated January 20, 1997,  appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Graco Inc. for the year ended December 27, 1996.




Deloitte & Touche LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 17, 1997

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