Raymond R. Kruger, age 82, of Kiester, died Monday, May 2, 2005, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, following an extended battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 5, at Grace United Methodist Church in Kiester. The Rev. Lynn Borgeson will officiate. Visitation will be at the Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, and visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery rural Kiester.

Ray was born on Jan. 29, 1923, in Faribault County to Theodore and Bertha (Sisson) Kruger as the fifth of

seven children. Ray attended and graduated from Kiester High School in 1941.

Following graduation Ray and his brother Clayton did custom baling during the summer as well as farm the family farm for several years. He was united in marriage to LaFaye Childs on Oct. 18, 1958, in Albert Lea. After their marriage, the couple moved to Kiester to the family farm to raise their own family. Ray hauled canned and bulk milk for the Kiester Coop Creamery, Mid-America Creamery in Twin Lakes, and then most recently managed the Seed Processing Plant for the Kiester Coop Elevator until he retired in 1990. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Kiester. Ray’s hobbies included trapping, vegetable gardening, bowling, yard work, watching any Minnesota sporting events and spending time with his family.

He is survived by five children: Becky and her husband Kyle Wolfe of Owatonna,

Raymond Kruger Jr. of Kiester, Ronald and his wife Gail Kruger of Rochester, Pam and her husband Pat Cordova of Plymouth, Minn., and Mike and his wife Dawn Kruger of Alden,; three grandchildren: Josh, Chelsey and Alex Kruger of Rochester; sisters: Irene and husband Bill Jensen of Granada, Minn., and Mildred Grady of Yakima, Wsh.; brother, Clayton and wife Connie Kruger of Walters; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife in 2001, and one brother and two sisters preceded him in death.