The funeral service for Raymond "Ray" Welke will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin with Pastor Terrill Bramstedt officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester with military rites by the Elgin and Plainview American Legion Posts.

Mr. Welke, 95, of Plainview, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2015 at St. Isidore Health Center of Greenwood Prairie in Plainview.

Raymond Arthur Welke was born March 30, 1920 on his family's farm in Olmsted County. He was baptized at the Church of Peace in 1920 and confirmed there in 1934. He grew up on the family farm and completed grades 1 through 8 and learned English at Culbertson Country School, graduating from 8th grade in 1933, and completed 9th grade at Rochester High School. Ray went on to serve his country in the US Army from 1942 to 1945. He served in the South Pacific in the battles at Bismarck Archipelago, and New Guinea Luzon as a Radar Maintenance Technician. He was also schooled by the military in Florida and Australia. Ray received the following honors while serving his country, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, with the Bronze Star, Bronze Arrowhead, American Theatre Service Ribbon, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Service Ribbon. Ray married Nilva Wehrs on February 12, 1946 in Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin.

Ray was a lifetime farmer in rural Plainview. He enjoyed woodworking, going trapping, and playing cards. Ray was a member of the Lions Club, Elgin American Legion, and the Elgin Volunteer Ambulance Service. He also was a member of the Church of Peace in Rochester and Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin, and NRA.

Ray is survived by his daughter, Kathy "Dale" Ronning of Waverly, MN; and three sons, Eugene (Ingrid) Welke and Bill (Casey) Welke both of Plainview, and Bob Welke of Millville; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and special family friends, Larry and Jeanie Pettis of Plainview. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nilva on January 5, 2014; 2 sisters, Dorothy Bishop and Phoebe Fenske; and one brother, Carlton Welke.

Friends and family may visit from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel in Plainview and at the church from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2.