Raymond Doerhoefer

Raymond Frank Doerhoefer, age 87, of Willmar and formerly of Raymond, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, May 29, at his residence in Willmar.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 1, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Raymond and Willmar American Legion Posts and the MN Patriot Guard. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Raymond "Ray" Frank Doerhoefer was born July 20, 1924 to Frank & Dagmar (Rudebeck) Doerhoefer on the farm near Hadley, MN. Ray went to school in Hadley and Fulda, MN. He was drafted into the Army, the 1st Calvary, in 1944. He served as company clerk and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After an honorable discharge, he married his beautiful wife, DorisNorstegard, in Dovray, MN on November 22, 1946. Together they raised four wonderful daughters. Ray worked in a grocery store in Spirit Lake, Iowa and then in Westbrook, MN. In 1961, Ray and Doris moved to Raymond, MN where they bought a grocery store and built a processing plant called "Ray's Market". They worked together and had their four girls learn the business too. Ray was involved in the community as a member of the city council, commercial club, church board building committee chair and Lion's Club member.
Ray loved bowling and had Ray's Market Bowling team. He was a member of the American Legion for 62 years. He and his wife had a lake place on Lake Florida where they brought their girls boating and taught them, along with their friends, to swim and waterski. Ray had a love for music that he shared with everyone. He was always singing or whistling and he specifically enjoyed his player piano and tinkling on the piano keys.
After the big fire in Raymond in 1974 that took four businesses, including the market, Ray and Doris ran another local grocery store until they got it back on its feet and then sold it. Ray then drove bus for many years in Raymond and Willmar. He loved kids and always talked fondly of his school kids. He especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren more than words can say. The love was mutual as his grandchildren loved him to pieces. He was their rock and he was their biggest fan!
Ray and Doris moved to Willmar in 1991. For years, he chauffeured many people to their appointments in Willmar. Ray and Doris spent 15 years wintering in Arizona. They have enjoyed their retirement and life together.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years: Doris; his daughters: Barb (and Scott) Schneider of Willmar, CaRae Cayman of Edina, Londa (and Lyle) Rambow of Morris, and Jane (and Jerome) Vikse of Spicer; 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister: Betty (and Bob) McGarrah of California; brothers-in-law: Francis Sorg of Owatonna and Dallas (and Clarise) Norstegard of Tracy; sisters-in-law: Nancy Doerhoefer of Austin and Rita Doerhoefer of New Mexico; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Don and Frank; sisters: Emily, Leona and Leila; brother-in-law: Dennis Norstegard; father and mother-in-law: Jule and Thelma Norstegard; and great-grandson: Baby Morgan Foster.