Val

Valery "Val" Raway age 63, of Lakeville, MN, formerly of St James, died on September 28, 2023, at University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.

Service will be held at the Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel, on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 11:30 am, visitation at the funeral home one hour prior.

The clergy will be Pastor Joy Ekstedt. Interment will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.  Reception to follow at First Lutheran Church, St. James.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Valery Sue (Todnem) Raway was born March 14th, 1960 in St. James to Lowell and Carol (Mikkelson) Todnem. Val was baptized May 29th, 1960 and confirmed April 27th, 1975 at First Lutheran Church of St. James.  Val graduated from St. James High School in 1978 and attended Dakota County Technical College for Fashion Merchandising, where she met the love of her life, Dan Raway.  They were married May 26th, 1979 and had two children: Jennifer and Joseph.  Val worked as a realtor for Edina Realty for 26 1/2 years.  She loved family, friends, coffee, flowers, shoes, shopping, wine and diamond painting.

Val is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dan Raway; daughter, Jenny (Justin) Fitzgerald of Burnsville; son, Joe (Anna) Raway of Lakeville; five grandchildren, Tate and Bennett Raway, Braeden, Teagan and Vaida Fitzgerald; mother, Carol Todnem of St. James; brothers, Lee (Patty) Todnem, Brad Todnem, Leslie (Jean) Todnem; sisters, Corky (Roger) Nundahl, Joleen Braaten, and Vicky (Dan) Todnem-Miller.  Val was preceded in death by father, Lowell Todnem, brother-in-law, Terry Braaten, and nephew, Nathan Nundahl.

Val was fancy, amazing, strong and brave.  She taught everyone how to love fiercely and never give up.  We are thankful for the years we stole after her "S & S" and how that brought us so much closer as a family.  We are thankful for the time Val & Dan got to spend together always and especially after retirement.  Whether home in Minnesota or Arizona or traveling, they only always wanted to be together.  We are thankful for all the time she had with her grandkids, "Mooma" might have been her favorite name when she had the most joy and she excelled at it!  We are thankful for the time she had with friends and family.  She was amazing at getting people together for meals, fresh therapy cookies and beverages, but most importantly, time with each other.

She didn't want to go but it was her time.  We will miss her every day but we will remember every moment of her unending LOVE.