Raymond Seifert

Raymond “Ray” Seifert, 86, of Morgan, died Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 21, in St. Michael Catholic Church in Morgan. Burial, with military honors, was in the church cemetery.
Raymond Henry Seifert, the son of Joseph and Rosa (Guldan) Seifert, was born March 11, 1931, on the family farm in Brookville Township, Redwood County, Minnesota. He grew up on the farm and received his formal education in the nearby country school. Following his schooling, Ray worked on the family farm. He was inducted into the United States Army on Nov. 25, 1952, and served as a Military Policeman during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge from active military service on Oct. 20, 1954, Ray returned to the family farm. Ray was discharged from the Army Reserves on Oct. 31, 1960.
On Oct. 17, 1961, Ray married Violet Platz at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springfield. They lived and farmed in Morgan Township where Ray raised feeder pigs and sheep. When the flock of sheep was up to 500 strong, Ray spent many a night in the barn during lambing season! He also grew peas and corn for DeMonte and, when he retired, had grown for them for 35 years — at that time the longest any farmer had raised vegetables for them. Ray was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He was a lifetime member of Sherman-Bohn VFW Post 5771 in Morgan.
Ray enjoyed woodworking and made many birdhouses and wooden toys. He also liked doing jigsaw puzzles and word search puzzles. In his younger years, Ray enjoyed sketching and, when his children were growing up, took them bullhead fishing every Sunday after church. He had a strong work ethic and often told his children “if you want something you work for it.”
Ray is survived by his wife, Violet of Morgan; and children, Rosemary (Charlie) Bertzyk-Leiby of Manawa, Wisc., Ruth Ann (Daniel) Seifert of Marshall, and Ronald Seifert of Morgan; and his brother, Elroy (Diane) Seifert of Paynesville. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Lawrence (Sarah) Bertzyk III, Nichole (Gibran) Lopez, Jessica (Brandan) Schunk, Landon Hindermann, and Kolton Matthys; and great-grandchildren Kadence Schunk, Destini Schunk, Mia Rae Bertzyk, and baby-on-the-way Penelope Rose Lopez. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Tina Ann Bertzyk; great-grandson, Destin Schunk; sisters, Caroline Harder and Adeline Seifert; and brother, Leroy Seifert.
Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan was entrusted with funeral arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.