Eckdahl

Raymond Gustaf, aged 100, of Delano and Maple Plain, passed away on April 15, 2025. He was born on November 19, 1924, to Gustaf and Amelia (Hale) Eckdahl in Red Wing, Minnesota. As a young child his family moved to a farm near Mound, MN; he graduated from Mound High School in 1943.   He farmed with his parents and others until he was drafted into the Army in 1950.  While in Germany, he began corresponding with a young lady in Ohio, and upon his discharge in 1952, met Eva Lee Devinney in person and proposed shortly after. They married on April 5, 1953, and returned to Minnesota to begin their life together.  They raised their eight children on Bayside Road, dairy farming and working off the farm doing drywall in area homes for many years.

In 1987, Ray and Eva Lee moved to their home in Delano, where they gardened and cherished visits from their family.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Lee, his son, Tom, and his brother John.

He is survived by his children: Beth (Lyle) Hosek, Tim (Sarah), Lynette (Alex) Weir, Steve (Patty), Susan (Mark) Kroontje, Mary (Kevin) Bauman, Tracy Eckdahl, and Karen (Gregg) Laurence.  Ray’s grandchildren: Jess O’Rourke; Peter & James (Kirsten) Eckdahl; Craig (Noel) & Matthew (Callie) Weir; Jon (Betsy) Eckdahl; Emily (David) Ebnet, Stephanie (Jason) Hayunga, Rachel Kroontje (Chris Matott) & Heather Murfield; Amanda (Brody) Lindquist & Wendy (Devon) Osman; Abbie (Matt) Kempinger, Andrew (Alyssa) & Isaac Eckdahl; Nathan, Caleb & Rebecca Laurence.  Great-grandchildren: Michael O’Rourke; Vienna, Philippa & Katalina Weir; Jonah, Everett & Madelyn Eckdahl; Samuel Ebnet; Annika & Brantlee Hayunga; Olivia & Warren Matott; Cainen & Sloan Murfield; Madison Lindquist; Ezra, Ophelia & Adeline Kempinger; Luke, Owen, Isla & Asher Eckdahl.  He is also survived by his brother, Carl (Peg), sister-in-law Penny Eckdahl, nephews and their families.

A memorial celebration will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Maple Plain Community Church in Maple Plain, Minnesota. A visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Iten Funeral Home in Delano, Minnesota.  There will also be a visitation Saturday from 10-11 AM prior to the service, at the church. Interment with military honors will be at Christ Lutheran Cemetery.

The Eckdahl family would like to thank Willmar’s Centra Care Hospice and Bethesda First Floor staff for their care of Ray in his final weeks.