Raymond "Ray" Henry Seifert

March 11, 1931 - April 18, 2017

Raymond “Ray” Seifert, 86, of Morgan died Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 2017 from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan. Burial, with military honors, will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, April 20, 2017, from 5 until 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Home in Morgan. Visitation will continue on Friday, from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m., at the church. Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com. 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. 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 November 25, 1952 and served as a Military Policeman during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge from active military service on October 20, 1954, Ray returned to the family farm. Ray was discharged from the Army Reserves on October 31, 1960. On October 17, 1961, Ray married Violet Platz at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Springfield. They lived and farmed in Morgan Township where Ray raised feeder pigs and sheep. As 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’s Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He was a lifetime member of Sherman-Bohn VFW Post 5771 in Morgan. Ray enjoyed wood working 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, Wisconsin, 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. Blessed be his memory.