RAY REIERSON

REIERSON, NELSON, ELLESTAD, HOUG, OSTLIE, ERAGER, OLSON, BRADY, LEARN, MCDONALD, LYNCH, CABERTI, SNIFFIN, DUCKWORTH, MOREL, NORTHMAN, THOMAS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/8/2002 at 17:34:55

 
RAY REIERSON

Funeral services for Ray Reierson, 92, were held Friday, June 29, 1984 at 1:30 p.m. at the West Clermont Lutheran Church. The Rev. Kim Peterson officiated. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Norway Lutheran Cemetery, rural St. Olaf, Iowa.

Ray Reierson, son of Torkel and Sarah (Nelson) Reierson, was born May 28, 1892 on a farm in Wagner Township, Clayton County, near St. Olaf, Iowa. He died Wednesday, June 27, 1984 at Palmer Memorial Hospital in West Union.

He was baptized and confirmed at the Norway Lutheran Church and attended the Dry Run School in Wagner Township.

Ray served in the U. S. Army during W.W.I attaining the rank of Corporal. He was with the American Expeditionary Force which entered France Sept. 3, 1918.

In September, 1920 he was married to Minerva Ellestad. Three children were born to this union, Vernon, Norris and James. He was married to Agnes Houg in 1935. A daughter, Helen, was born to this union. In November of 1945 he was married to Hazel Ostlie.

Ray farmed all of his life. Even after moving to Clermont in 1945 he returned to his farm daily for many years to do the work he loved so much.

Ray was a member of the West Clermont Lutheran Church and a lifetime member of the Sheehan-Olson American Legion Post No. 375 of Clermont.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Minerva and Agnes; a son, James, in infancy; a brother, Henry; two sisters, Mabel Erager and Louena Olson and a step daughter, Janet Brady.

Surviving are his wife, Hazel; two sons, Vernon L. of Ft. Walton Beach, FL and Norris T. of Clermont; a daughter, Helen E. of Albuquerque, NM; two stepsons, Harris Olson of Kansas and Leslie Olson of Wisconsin, four grandchildren, Renae Learn, Rick and Beckie Reierson, and Jeffrey McDonald; two great grandchildren, Candace Rae and Mindee Learn; nine step grandchildren, Carole Lynn Lynch, Sister Maria Teresea and Corrine Caberti; Mary Jo Sniffin and Janice Duckworth; Sherry Morel and Corrine Northman; and Gary and David Olson; 14 step great grandchildren, Linda Thomas, Tara and James Lynch; Dan and Julie Sniffin and Matt, Brian, Jennifer and Jeffrey Duckworth; Marquis Morel; Ashley and Paige Olson and Natalie and Courtney Olson; one step great, great granddaughter, Sharon Marie Thomas; and a sister, Tillie Johnson of Clermont, Iowa.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.