Raymond Dierkhising

Raymond J. "Ray" Dierkhising, age 69 of Sauk Centre, died Friday, December 18, 2015 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 22 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. An inurnment will take place at a later date at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Raymond Joseph Dierkhising was born August 5, 1946 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Anthony and Alvina (Primus) Dierkhising. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam where he earned a purple heart. Ray worked at Emblom's in Sauk Centre for a number of years and later was a self-employed truck driver. Ray's favorite pastime was spending time with his family and his friends.

Survivors include his sons, Jay (Amy) Dierkhising of Becker and Corey Dierkhising of Nisswa; two granddaughters, Kayla and Claire Dierkhising; mother, Alvina Dierkhising of Sauk Centre; sister, Kathy (Vern) Botz of Sauk Centre; and brothers, Roy (Carol) Dierkhising of Sauk Centre, Virgil (Sharon) Dierkhising of Hugo, and Mark (Dee) Dierkhising of Melrose.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Anthony "Tony" Dierkhising.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.