Watch Vincent and Janice's Memorial Service

Vincent H. Raaen, age 94, of Erskine, MN, passed away December 3, 2022, at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine.

Vincent was born August 9, 1928, to parents Syvert and Ragna (Erickson) Raaen. He graduated from McIntosh High School in 1946 followed by Concordia College in 1950 with degrees in Physics and Chemistry. Vincent paid his way through college by working at the Fairmont Cass Clay Creamery in Fargo, ND.

In the summer of 1950, he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Fort Hood, TX, for artillery training. Vincent proudly served in the Korean War in 1951 and 1952. Upon his honorable discharge, he took a course from the Institute of Photography in Wyoming and became a Press Photographer in Wyoming. In his spare time, he followed the Oregon Trail, helped move a mass grave, and wrote a novel about a girl killed on the trail. Vincent was not in photography long before he became a geophysicist for a seismic company. He searched for oil from Oklahoma to the wilderness east of the Yukon. After a bitter cold and dangerous winter, Vincent became a teacher in Fertile, MN. He loved his students and was employed there for 22 years, teaching physics, chemistry, and math. During his "free" hour he taught photography and ground school for flying. In addition, Vincent was also a ham operator for 45 years. Over the years, his favorite hobby was working with wood.

Vincent was survived by his wife, Jan; five nephews; three nieces; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, Layton; his parents, Syvert and Ragna; brother, Vernon; and sisters, Vivian Rask and Vyonne Bale.

In his own words "I lived a full life…maybe too full. If I had it to do over again, I would have taken more time to smell the roses and listen to the birds chirp their songs of love."

A Memorial Service for Janice and Vincent will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday May 31, 2025, at Dovre Lutheran Church, Winger, MN. Inurnment will be held at  Dovre Cemetery, rural Winger.