Raymond Juleen Kolstad

Raymond Kolstad , of Milan, died Monday, July 14, 2003 at his daughters home in Sartell, MN at the age of 84.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 18, 2003 at 10:30 A.M. at Big Bend Lutheran Church in Big Bend with Rev. David DeMars officiating Interment will be in the church cemetery.

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

Raymond Juleen Kolstad was born August 4, 1918 in Cashel Township of Swift County, MN to Edward and Minnie (Christenson) Kolstad.  He was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Benson and attended rural schools. On September 5, 1941 he was united in marriage to Judell Thompson in Benson, MN.  They farmed for many years in Swift and Chippewa Counties.  In 1983 he retired and they moved into Milan.  He has been residing for the past 6 months at the home of his daughter Julie in Sartell, MN.  He was a member of Big Bend Lutheran Church, serving on the church board and council.  He was a member of the Milan Lions Club and was active in the Crop Improvement Association.  Ray also served on the District 17 school board.  He loved music, playing saxophone for many years in the Ed Kolstad Orchestra at dances, the Big Bend Barn Dance Gang at community functions and before a live audience with Charles Sylte and  Gordon Eliason as the RS Combo.  He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, going for car rides in the countryside and traveling to his family cabin on Star Lake.  Ray thoroughly enjoyed visiting with people, being with his family, and teasing his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Judell; three children: Yvonne Andrews and her husband Allen of Watson, MN, Arlen Kolstad of rural Montevideo, MN and Julie Swenson of Sartell, MN; six grandchildren: Michele Skogrand and her husband Wayne; Michael Andrews, Heather Kolstad, Erika Kolstad, Christopher Swenson, Stephanie Swenson; two great-grandchildren: Andrew and Dusten Skogrand; one sister, Lorraine Moline of Benson, MN; one niece and 2 nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents one brother, Clarence Kolstad and a nephew, Roger Moline.