Raymond Fredrick Buttenhoff

Ray, 98, passed away at home in St Peter on March 12, 2024, very peacefully in his sleep.
Memorial service will be at 11:00am Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the St Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, with burial at a later date at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Long Prairie, MN. Visitation will be  one hour before the service. Livestreaming of the service can be found on the St. Peter Lutheran Church and School Facebook page.
Ray was born February 6, 1926 on the family farm near Howard Lake, to Fredrick Carl and Alvina Pauline (Reek) Buttenhoff. Ray was the 5th of 11 children. In 1952 he was united in marriage to Lucille Walberga Unterberger in Howard Lake. Together they had three children, Bruce, Trudy and Raymond, Jr. Lucille passed away in 2002. In 2003, Ray was united in marriage to Ramona Reksten in St Peter.
Ray's education took him through 8th grade, and he learned so much in life. He worked on the family farm, then entered the Army and was stationed in the Philippines, the Air Corp was created while in service. He also worked on the railroad going west. He worked most of his career in the turkey industry, loading truck by hand, one turkey at a time, all the way to retiring as the Plant Manager for Jennie O Foods in 1988 after over 40 years combined in Melrose and Wilmar.
Ray was an avid and knowledgeable gardener, willingly sharing his knowledge with many family and friends. Ray enjoyed fishing on Cedar Lake or any other lake near by. He enjoyed the years at the resort along with hunting, woodworking and making rugs. Donating his work gave him great joy.
Ray was an active church member in the different communities which he lived in. He was a calm and caring man, gave generously and without hesitation.
 Ray is survived by his wife Ramona, son Bruce (Donna), daughter Trudy Geis, step daughter Andrea Bruns (Doug Rohlk). Grandchildren Aaron (Kari), Kaylea Bosman, Ryan (Christina), Derrik (Heather), Caleb, Jason and Victor Quistorff, Melissa (Jeremy) Reintjes, Ben (Devan) Bruns. Great grandchildren Duane, Bella, Thomas, Callie, Georgia, Cooper, Fredrick, Maverick, Joseph, Carter, Miles, Henry, Hudson, Harrison. Brother Garland (Ruth) Buttenhoff, sister-in-law Beatrice. Many nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Lucille, son Raymond, sisters Edna (Walter), Lorraine(Wally) Lila(Jim), Ardis, Gladys (Donnie),Lucille(Leonard, and brothers Leonard(Jeanette,)Otto (Virginia) and Melvin.