Raymond Barten

Raymond A. "Ray" Barten, age 91 of Greenwald, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11a.m. Saturday, December 10 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald with Rev. Mitchell Bechtold officiating and Rev. Marvin Enneking, and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Knights of Columbus and St. Andrew's Catholic United Financial will pray at 5 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Raymond A. Barten was born February 18, 1925 in Elrosa, Minnesota to Nicholas and Cecelia (Deters) Barten. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Spanier on October 11, 1948 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spring Hill. The couple lived in West Union and then moved to Greenwald where they lived for 60 years. Ray's passion was church and farming. He was a founder of Catholic United Financial in Greenwald, member of the Queen of Peace General Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and Knights of Columbus Council #1633, Greenwald Recreation Club, and sang in the church choir for many years. Ray enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing, dancing, playing cards, and loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his children, Mike (Ann) Barten of Greenwald, Lois (Wilfred) Wesbur of Elrosa, Linda (Jim) Schmiesing of New Munich, Jim (Vicki) Barten of Sauk Centre, Judy (Don) Gaebel of New Munich, Ron (Jane) Barten of Melrose, Carol (Ron) Winter of Melrose, and Mary (Chad) Middendorf of Cold Spring; 44 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren with more on the way; brother and sisters, Donald Barten of St. Francis, Elverna Keller of Sauk Rapids, Lucille (Elmer) Sinderman of New Munich, Rosie Spanier of Spring Hill, Doris (Wilfred) Arens of Padua, and Janice (Phil) Miller of Sauk Centre; sisters-in-law, Monica Barten of Spring Hill and Virginia Barten of Osakis; and brother-in-law, Doug Dahlheimer of Alexandria.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Barten on December 26, 2013; two infant sons; sister, Odelia Dahlheimer; and brothers, Alfred and Dick Barten.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Wesbur, Jason Barten, Karl Schmiesing, Jon Gaebel, Jonah Barten, Rick Boecker, Zachary Middendorf, and Brendan Wesbur. Cross bearer will be Dustin Siegle and scripture bearer will be Michelle Boecker. Mass servers will be Kole Barten, Austin Barten, and Karly Boecker. Readers will be Staci Kalthoff and Missy Frieler. Petitions will be read by Josie Schmiesing and gift bearers will be Maddysen Boecker, Colin Barten, and James Wesbur.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Andrew's Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society.