Sorenson, Raymond Elmer 1924-2007

SORENSON, DINGER, BAKALAR, FOLSTAD, WOOD, DAY, TONNE, TOWNE, POTRATZ, VICK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/5/2012 at 10:24:05

Raymond Sorenson, age 83, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, November 22, 2007, at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI, following a short illness.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 26, 2007, at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa, with Rev. Matt Larson officiating.

Friends may call from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. There will be a VFW Memorial Service at 5:00 on Sunday at the funeral home.

Raymond Elmer “Ray” Sorenson was born on March 27, 1924, the son of Bendick and Susan Jane (Dinger) Sorenson in Decorah, Iowa. Raymond was baptized and confirmed on July 10, 1938 at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. He attended school in rural Decorah. Ray entered the Army Air Corps and served during World War II from Feb. 1943 to Oct. 1945. Ray received several medals of Honor during his tour of duty and was proud of being able to serve his country. Upon discharge from the Air Corps, he moved back to the area and served as a farmhand for a time before moving to Cedar Rapids and working for Wilson Meat Packing Company. On January 15, 1949, he married Betty Bakalar in Cedar Rapids. For several years he worked for the Iowa Bridge Company doing bridge constructions on locations in Des Moines and various other areas in Iowa. They returned to Decorah where Ray worked for Norman Berg Construction and later as a maintenance worker at the Cliff House until his retirement. Ray was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church and the Joseph B. Lund American Legion Post #299 in Mabel, MN.

Raymond’s survivors include his wife, Betty Sorenson, Decorah, IA. Four children: Linda (Marvin) Folstad, Decorah, IA; June Wood, Madrid, IA; Wayne (Tina) Sorenson, Sumner, IA and Diane (Derek) Day, Ionia, IA. One sister: Clara Tonne, Waterville, MN. Eight grandchildren: Cory Folstad, Tanya (Brian) Towne, Julie Wood, Mike (Allison) Wood, Brian Wood, Dan Sorenson, Josh Sorenson, and Alex Potratz. Six great grandchildren: Alexis Folstad, Abby & Ashton Towne, Isaac, Simon & Esme Wood and many nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his grandparents and his parents. Seven brothers: Oscar, John, Walter, Vernon, Sylvester, Ervin and Melvin. One sister: Ethel Vick.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Hesper Public cemetery
 

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