Ray A. Briesacher, 97 - Services Updated

Ray was born on July 27, 1912, near Revillo, S.D. He died on Dec. 27, 2009, at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He lived in South Dakota until the hard times came. They moved to Farmington, Minn. On June 31, 1944, he married Verona Cords of Randolph, Minn. In 2005, Ray and Verona moved to Utah to live with their only child, Sharon, and her family.

Ray loved to fish, golf, tell jokes, play cards, go to dances, and shake dice for coffee with friends every weekday morning.

Ray had many jobs during his life. He started life as a farmer. He also worked in a lumber yard, at the creamery, for the city of Farmington, as a guard at the FAA, as a justice of the peace, and as a driver for Dakota Motors.

He was an active member of the Masons for over 50 years. He received the prestigious Hiram award, presented to a Master Mason who has served the Lodge and the Masonic Fraternity with devotion over and above the ordinary. He was a member of the Shriners and served on the Farmington Cemetery Board for 50 years.

His greatest achievement was being loved by everyone. Ray always seemed to be happy, and you could always count on him for an entertaining story or funny joke. When you reach the age of 97, you outlive most of your friends, but Ray made new friends of all ages his entire life.

Ray is survived by his wife, Verona; daughter, Sharon, and husband Pat Zweber; grandson Andy Zweber and wife Kim and their daughters Alyssa and Sydney; granddaughter Becca Day, and husband Ben and their daughter Katarina.

Ray Briesacher

There will be a memorial service at Farmington Lutheran Church Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m. We invite friends and family to come remember him with us.

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