Raymond Hendershot Obituary
Raymond "Ray" C. Hendershot, age 82, of Long Prairie, passed away peacefully surrounded by family June 25, 2025, at St. Cloud Hospital from pneumonia and other complications.
A celebration of life will be July 26 at American Lutheran Church, Long Prairie. A visitation will be at 10 a.m. with a service at 11 a.m. Ray donated his body to the Mayo Clinic to support medical education and research.
Ray was born Sept. 13, 1942, in Rochester to Claude and Grace (Baker) Hendershot. Ray attended Bertha-Hewitt High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in November 1959, and was discharged in 1962. Ray met his wife, Joyce Ellyne Stepan, and they were married in 1962 until her passing in 2004. Ray started working as a construction electrician in August 1962, in St. Paul. Ray moved to Vadnais Heights where he was a captain of the volunteer fire department and president of the community and snowmobile clubs. Ray joined a Masonic organization in 1970. In 1975, he started working at the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections in Sauk Centre, where he was a maintenance supervisor and electrician for 10 years until they closed. In 1986, Ray and his son Myron, started their business All Service Electric. When Ray retired, he passed the business on to Myron.
Ray raised and showed quarter horses and enjoyed any horse activity. In 1999, he joined the Todd County Posse for eight years and was captain for two years. In later years, he found interest in classic cars and joined the Country Cruisers Car Club, and he was president for three years. Ray and his son, Myron, also had a country music band, The Modern Day Drifters. In 2006, he met Ann Marie Dalton who later because his wife in 2020. Ray enjoyed working on old Ford tractors, gardening and spending time with his faithful dog, Sadie.
Ray loved spending time with family, friends, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He always had a hug for everyone. Survivors include his loving wife, Ann Marie; children, Myron (Jackie) Hendershot, Debbie (Dan) Pollipnick and Steve (Mandy) Hendershot; step-children, Ron (Cindy) Dalton and Cynthia Dalton; and many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
Ray was preceeded in death by his parents; his six brothers, Norman, Cleo, Darwin, Lloyd, Kenneth, Richard; and brother-in-law, Barry Stepan.
The hardest thing in life is watching someone you love forget the family he loved. We would like to thank the ones who were there to support Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa during the tough journey he had through life. He will be missed by the many who cared for and loved him!
"Our Country is in Mourning, A Veteran Died Today."
Published by Sauk Centre Herald from Jul. 9 to Jul. 10, 2025.