Ralph A. “Ray” Friedt
Saturday, April 18, 1925
Date of Death:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Age:
87 years old
Visitation
Date: Wednesday December 12, 2012
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Thursday December 13, 2012
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Memorial Mass
Date: Thursday December 13, 2012
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Saturday, April 18, 1925
Date of Death:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Age:
87 years old
Saturday, April 18, 1925
Date of Death:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Age:
87 years old
Ralph A. “Ray” Friedt
Ralph Adrian “Ray” Friedt, 87 of Rochester passed away peacefully Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Sunrise Cottages Assisted Living Center in Rochester.
He was born April 18, 1925 in Mott, North Dakota to Alexander and Anna (Hellman) Friedt. On June 26, 1946 he married Mary Anne Klein at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester. She passed away May 16, 2012.
Ray grew up in Mott and attended school there. After 3 years at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND, he moved to Rochester and worked at Waters Conley. He accepted a position at Mayo Clinic in 1947 as a laboratory technician in pathologic anatomy. During his tenure at Mayo, he took technical training at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, in 1969 and at the University of Toronto in 1972. In 1972 he was named chief anatomy technician.
Ray was in charge of administering the anatomy donor program from 1972 until he retired in 1986. He also did homograph-related work for the Department of Neurosurgery and other surgical departments at Mayo Clinic.
At the age of 7, Ray began playing in a band with his brothers. After moving to Minnesota he continued to play in his own group, the Happy Go Lucky polka band. He enjoyed playing the saxophone, farming, camping, playing cards, woodworking, dancing, going to breakfast with the morning church group and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Ray and Mary also enjoyed many winters in Arizona and summers at their cabin in Wisconsin.
He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, belonged to the Eagles club, and was a long-time member of Resurrection Catholic Church.
Survivors include his children, Garold “Gary” (Cindy) Friedt of Rochester, DeLora (Bruce) Bartelt of Belle Plaine, Roger (Paula) Friedt of Rochester, Rhonda (Jim*belated) Grob of Auburn, CA, Renee (Jay) Ean of Rochester, Karri (Forrest) Boe of Hastings, Jay (Karen) Friedt of Rochester and Sara (Mark) Krier of Mazeppa; 26 grandchildren and 26 great-great grandchildren; siblings Bill (Pat) Friedt of Mott, ND, Valentine (Jeanette) Friedt of Mott, ND and Anne (Frank) Bergenheier of Dickenson, ND. In addition to his wife, Ray was preceded in death by 4 brothers, a grandson and a son-in-law.
Memorials are suggested to Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer’s research and The Nature Conservancy.
A Memorial Mass for Ray will be 11:00AM Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Resurrection Catholic Church officiated by Rev. Kevin Connelly. Friends may call at River Park Chapel of Macken Funeral Home Wednesday from 5:30PM to 7:30PM and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
Condolences
The family of Ralph A. “Ray” Friedt has received the following condolences.
Renee and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.
Sincerely, Liz
I would like to express my sincere sympathy to your family and to let you all know that I'm thinking of you in your time of sorrow. Uncle Ray was my Godfather and I'm very proud to be named after him. He has been and will always be part of me. May God Bless you all in this difficult time and give you comfort when it is most needed.
Our deepest condolences to all of the Friedt family on the loss of Uncle Ray. I still remember your family visits to Killdeer and Mott and how all of us cousins would have such a fun time together. I hope you can find peace & some comfort in knowing that he is now reunited with your mother and they will once again have a beautiful Christmas together. Our thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Gary, Renee, Roger, Rhonda, Jay, Delora and Sara, we will always remember your dad and mother fondly. They were the sweetest people to us. You all were blessed to have them as your parents. Take solice in knowing they are together again. Thinking of all of you at this time, take care.
Words can never take away the sorrow you must feel for the loss of your father... Although I didn't know Uncle Ray very well, my mother has shared many stories about him and his passion for music, people, family, and his ever compassionate heart. May you find comfort in your memories of him and your family. Please know, that even though we are not always in touch, our love for all of you and best wishes for you are sincere and may God bless all of you at this time.
Respectfully, your cousin,
Denise (Bergenheier )Martz
Ashley, ND, 58413
Sara, Mark and family,
I am so sorry to hear of your recent loss. Our prayers are with you and your whole family. Your parents will always be with you, in your heart. Peace be with you all.
sorry we cant be there will have a mass said here for Ray and Mary love and prayers
sorry for your loss we will miss him much our prayers and love to all
We are sorry to hear about uncle Ray. We are sending love and prayers to you all.
So Sorry to here of Uncle Rays Passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Gary, Cindy and family.
We are saddend to hear of your loss. We wish we could physically be there with you during this most difficult time, please know that we are with you and your family in our thoughts and prayers...
Rikc & Lori Lovett
Our thought and prayers are with you at this time. We enjoyesd visiting with Ray (and Mary) at the lake.
We were all saddened to hear of Ray's passing. Our love and prayers are with all of you.
We will all miss Uncle Ray. Fondly remember all the visits over the years and for letting Cathy and Mary stay there when Cathy was going to school and hosting Mary's 2nd birthday oh so many years ago!
So sorry to read of your father's death. I got let go from IBM in March only had 27 years and am 53 years old so could not retire, went to work at Sargent's for the summer, now I am going back to school at RCTC after 20 years. It has been a very emotional time this year, but believe it or not, I have a 4.0 average. Sometimes you never know where life is going to take you.
Gary, our family send's our sincere sympathy's to your family during this time!
My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Penny (Feeder) Chaddock
With heartfelt sympathy as you grieve the loss of your Dad and fondly remembering your Mother as well.
We wanted to share a couple of stories you may not know about your parents.
Your Mom and Dad were very special friends in our parents' lives. Your Mom was one of the last friends to visit our Mom a few days before she passed away in October 1998. They were very close; your parents were so supportive of both our parents throughout their terminal illnesses. They cared about the little things!
Additionally, every year, for many years after our parents passed away, my sister Mary and I would both receive a St Paddy's Day card from your parents. The cards were such a sweet testimony to a heartfelt friendship and a wonderful blessing all those years for Mary and I, that your Mom and Dad remembered and honored our parents memory.
May you all find Peace and Joy knowing they are together again in the presence of their Lord and God. As you grieve also celebrate the lives of two amazing people who knew and honored the value of special lifetime friendships!
Mary Mullen and Anne Mullen Lindahl
Many many good memories with Ray over the years. Our thoughts are with you. Lee and Kathy Klein
Uncle Ray will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.