Raymond Gerhard Jorgenson

Raymond Jorgenson, formerly of Montevideo and the Big Bend area, died on Monday, February 10, 2003 at Alterra Sterling House in Willmar at the age of 86.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 15, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. David DeMars officiating.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday afternoon and evening with the family from 5-7 PM and with  a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Raymond Gerhard Jorgenson was born on his homeplace in Big Bend Township of Chippewa County, MN on March 9, 1916 to Joe E. and Johanna (Norby) Jorgenson.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Big Bend Lutheran Church and attended rural school.  Ray moved to Minneapolis in the 1930's and worked as a waiter at an exclusive restaurant and at the Minikahda Golf Club.  He returned to the Big Bend area and started farming the home farm in 1939.  On September 8, 1940 he was united in marriage to Esther Blom at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Watson, MN.  They continued to farm until his retirement in 1978.  They moved into Montevideo in 1980.  Ray was an innovative farmer, always interested in new techniques.  He was a mentor of young farmers.  He was a leader in the community, actively involved in politics and was the Big Bend Town Clerk for 25 years.  Ray was a loving husband and father and a loyal and generous friend.  He loved the land and strolling along the Chippewa River.  He could strike up a conversation with anyone and had many friends of all ages.  Ray was an adventurer, packing the family and moving to Oregon and California for the winters of 1953 and 1954.  He loved to fish, hunt, golf and watch football and baseball.  His love of travel brought the family to many areas of the country.  Ray was a proud American and he cherished the privilege to vote.

He is survived by  a daughter Linda Boraas and her husband Leslie of Dawson, MN; three sons: Richard and his wife Alice of Spokane, WA, Robert and his wife Tish of Carlsbad, CA, and Joel and his wife Carolyn of Willmar, MN; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren as well as by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Esther in 1993; by sisters Alpha Beaston and Doris Beaudoin and by brothers Earl, Sibert, Leonard and Harold Jorgenson.