Raymond Ostenvik, age 72 of Mahnomen, MN, died on Monday, September 29, 2008 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Raymond was born on September 29, 1936 in Flom, MN, the son of Wilhelm and Elsie (Narum) Ostenvik. As a young boy, Ray grew up in Flom and attended school in Waubun, MN. In 1946, he moved to a farm southeast of Mahnomen where he resided for over 60 years.

Over the years, Ray made his living farming with his brother and working for neighbors. He loved farming and all that came with it. Ray enjoyed making his yearly trip to the Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, MN, where he could visit with others about years past. Much of his spare time was spent enjoying the lakes country, making trips to Itasca State Park for picnics, and cutting up firewood – he loved the outdoors.

In 2004, Ray moved to the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home where he lived up until his death. Ray was a life long member of First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen and will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

Ray is survived by his twin brother, Ralph Ostenvik, Felton, MN; sister, Alice Ochsner, Portland, OR; sister-in-law, Pearl Ostenvik, Felton, MN; four nephews and three nieces.
Preceding him in death are his parents; four brothers and three sisters.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen, with Pastor Kristen Larsen-Schmidt officiating. Diane Kochmann and Lloyd Benson will provide special music. Serving as pallbearers will be John Olson, Manley Hillstad, Gerald Paulson, Cletus Geray, Andy Geray, and Urban Jirik. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Twin Valley, MN.