Raymond Franklin Nerem

Raymond Franklin Nerem passed away on August 1, 2026, at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, at age 100.

A funeral Service will be held at Old Westbrook Lutheran Church on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM with visitation beginning at 12 Noon until the start of the service. Interment will be at the Old Westbrook Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Lamberton. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

He was born March 7, 1926, in Highwater Township, MN, to Ella (Hoyt) Nerem and Carl Nerem Sr. Ray was extremely proud of his Norwegian heritage all his life. He was baptized and confirmed at the Old Westbrook Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN. Before his marriage, he spent time working for his uncle Clarence Hoyt in Ray, ND, where he made many life-long friends. He spent one summer working on a combine crew traveling through North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

On January 4, 1947, he married Arlene Halter at the Sharon Lutheran Church Parsonage in Lamberton, MN. They celebrated 78 years of marriage in 2025 shortly before Arlene passed away in February of that year. Ray and Arlene farmed from 1947-1984 in Highwater and Ann Townships.

Ray was an avid hunter all his life - deer, duck and pheasant. In 1961, he and Arlene purchased a hunting cabin north-west of Two Harbors, MN. He hunted locally near his farm with his daughter and son-in-law until he was 97 years old. In addition to hunting, he loved fishing with Arlene at local and northern lakes during the summertime as well as ice fishing in the winter.

Ray is survived by his daughters, Joyce (Paul) Dawson and Linda Williams; three grandchildren; five great grandchildren and many treasured nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by his wife Arlene, daughter Sharon and her husband James Tack, his parents, 8 brothers and sisters and their spouses, parents-in-law Mina and William Halter, Sr.

Blessed be his memory.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Old Westbrook Lutheran Church.