1934
Raymond
2016
Raymond Seaver, Sr
August 26, 1934 — December 5, 2016
Ray was born to Ray and Aline (Edson) Seaver on August 26, 1934. He lived his childhood years fully in North Minneapolis. He graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and went on to study at Augsburg College. He graduated with a degree in business administration after which he obtained a Master's Degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota. He met Ardith Kilde and they married in 1955 in Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Together they had five children, sixteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
A career in health care administration took Ray and Ardy to LeSueur, MN where he served the community as hospital administrator. He would next work with the Abbott Northwestern system in Minneapolis where he eventually served as the founding director of the Minneapolis Heart Institute. His retirement in 1994 brought an end to twenty-five years of commuting fifty-five miles from LeSueur to Minneapolis.
Throughout life Ray and Ardy were blessed by active involvement in the life of their local congregation. They met in the choir at Ebenezer in South Minneapolis and were part of the church planting team that established Oak Hill Lutheran Brethren Church in Bloomington. After enjoying many years of active involvement in First Presbyterian Church in LeSueur, they were again part of a church plant team which God used to establish Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church in LeSueur.
Ray and Ardy settled into Fergus Falls in 1997 and found life to be full and rewarding as they connected with new friends in the community and at Bethel Lutheran. Ray enrolled in Seminary and received a Master's of Divinity Degree. He took up writing as a way to encourage others. What began as a weekly email devotional evolved into the publication of two books which have blessed many in all walks of life.
Ironically, after investing so much of his life in health care administration, Ray would be the beneficiary of skilled compassionate health care as he lived with kidney cancer for the last fifteen years of his life. He spoke gratefully of the grace of God that he received in answer to prayer and through the work of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and later the Lake Region Cancer Center. His last days were beautifully impacted by the care extended by staff at PioneerCare Short Stay, Mill Street Residence, and Lakeland Hospice. He died on December 5 , 2016 and awaits the resurrection promised in Christ.
Ray is survived by his wife Ardy, children Jeff (Kathie) Seaver, Moorhead, MN; Cindy (David) Spidahl, Fergus Falls, MN; Barb (Nick) Mundis, Eden Prairie, MN; Ray (Christine) Seaver, Jr, Hartland, WI; Tom (Shannon) Seaver, Eden Prairie, MN; sixteen grandchildren and eleven greatgrandchildren; a sister, Janice Daggett and a brother, Jerry (Jill) Seaver. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Aline Seaver, as well as his brothers Jack and Dean.
Memorials preferred: Ray and Ardy Seaver Endowment at Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Lake Region Cancer Center, and Lakeland Hospice (a ministry of Lutheran Brethren Homes, Inc).
Visitation: Friday, December 9, 2016, from 5-7 P.M., with a 6:30 Prayer service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy; Pastor David Foss
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN
Raymond's Memorial Folder
A career in health care administration took Ray and Ardy to LeSueur, MN where he served the community as hospital administrator. He would next work with the Abbott Northwestern system in Minneapolis where he eventually served as the founding director of the Minneapolis Heart Institute. His retirement in 1994 brought an end to twenty-five years of commuting fifty-five miles from LeSueur to Minneapolis.
Throughout life Ray and Ardy were blessed by active involvement in the life of their local congregation. They met in the choir at Ebenezer in South Minneapolis and were part of the church planting team that established Oak Hill Lutheran Brethren Church in Bloomington. After enjoying many years of active involvement in First Presbyterian Church in LeSueur, they were again part of a church plant team which God used to establish Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church in LeSueur.
Ray and Ardy settled into Fergus Falls in 1997 and found life to be full and rewarding as they connected with new friends in the community and at Bethel Lutheran. Ray enrolled in Seminary and received a Master's of Divinity Degree. He took up writing as a way to encourage others. What began as a weekly email devotional evolved into the publication of two books which have blessed many in all walks of life.
Ironically, after investing so much of his life in health care administration, Ray would be the beneficiary of skilled compassionate health care as he lived with kidney cancer for the last fifteen years of his life. He spoke gratefully of the grace of God that he received in answer to prayer and through the work of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and later the Lake Region Cancer Center. His last days were beautifully impacted by the care extended by staff at PioneerCare Short Stay, Mill Street Residence, and Lakeland Hospice. He died on December 5 , 2016 and awaits the resurrection promised in Christ.
Ray is survived by his wife Ardy, children Jeff (Kathie) Seaver, Moorhead, MN; Cindy (David) Spidahl, Fergus Falls, MN; Barb (Nick) Mundis, Eden Prairie, MN; Ray (Christine) Seaver, Jr, Hartland, WI; Tom (Shannon) Seaver, Eden Prairie, MN; sixteen grandchildren and eleven greatgrandchildren; a sister, Janice Daggett and a brother, Jerry (Jill) Seaver. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Aline Seaver, as well as his brothers Jack and Dean.
Memorials preferred: Ray and Ardy Seaver Endowment at Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Lake Region Cancer Center, and Lakeland Hospice (a ministry of Lutheran Brethren Homes, Inc).
Visitation: Friday, December 9, 2016, from 5-7 P.M., with a 6:30 Prayer service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy; Pastor David Foss
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN
Raymond's Memorial Folder
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