Janis M. Ray

Janis M. Ray, of West Concord, passed away on August 4, 2025, at the age of 97. Born on June 11, 1928, to Marshall and Carolyn Svee, she is survived by one of her four siblings, Evelyn Lykkegaard; her son, Richard Ray (Catherine Belue Ray - deceased); daughter, Arlene Duenow (Arlyn Cash); and son, Steven Ray (Gloria). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, all of whom she was very proud of. Mark Ray, her youngest child, and Derek Ray, one of her grandchildren, sadly predeceased her.

Janis spent her entire life serving others, beginning with teaching. She taught four years in a country school followed by 37 more years teaching first and second grade students at the West Concord Elementary School. After retiring from teaching and upon the founding of the West Concord Historical Society (WCHS) in 1994, Janis served on its board of directors until 2019. In addition, for nearly 20 years, she served as Administrative Manager of the WCHS, working six mornings per week managing day-to-day operations as an unpaid volunteer.

Apart from the WCHS, Janis served the West Concord community and region for her entire adult life in many other ways. Her contributions are too many to enumerate but some of the more notable contributions include: Women's Rights Activist; Teacher's Union Member and Union Representative; Rochester, MN Women's Shelter Board of Directors member for 25 years; Minnesota Education Association (MEA) President of Cannon Valley UniServ; MEA Board of Directors and Executive Committee member; served on the State Board of Teaching for two years; political activist including Dodge County, MN DFL Chairperson, delegate to Congressional and State DFL party conventions, and Minnesota 1st Congressional District Chairperson; Minnesota Senior Federation, Southeast Region Officer; and Mayor of West Concord.

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Highland Street, West Concord, MN, on September 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM with lunch to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Janis preferred donations be made to the West Concord Historical Society, P.O. Box 58, West Concord, MN 55985.