Iray M. Satre, age 84, of Bricelyn, died on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at his home in Bricelyn.

Funeral Services were held Monday, Dec. 29, at South Blue Earth Lutheran Church in Seely Township, Faribault County, Minn. The Rev. Patricia Hinkie officiated. Visitation was Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn from 3-7 p.m., and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Interment was at South Blue Earth Lutheran Cemetery in Seely Township, Faribault County.

Iray was born on July 15, 1919, the son of Iver H. and Mattie (Langsev) Satre on the family farm in Seely Township. He was baptized and confirmed at the South Blue Earth Lutheran Church, where he had been a lifelong active member. He attended the Homedahl Country School in Seely Township, Faribault County. He worked as a hired hand for his neighbors.

Iray was drafted in the U.S. Army in November of 1941 and honorably discharged in December of 1945. After being discharged he went back to school for agriculture, and then later took over farming the family farm.

On April 6, 1948, he was united in marriage to Donna Mae Rasmusson at the South Blue Earth Lutheran Church, and following her death he married Clara (Nesje) Knudtson on June 14, 1974 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester.

He picked sweet corn for many years for the Bricelyn Canning Company. He retired from farming in 1990. Iray was a very active member of the Bricelyn American Legion Lee Post 165, and the Wells VFW. He enjoyed fishing, smoking his pipe, playing cards and fixing things.

He is survived by his wife: Clara Satre of Bricelyn; one daughter: Linda (husband Lloyd) Engebretson of Bricelyn; one son: David (wife Colleen) Satre of Bricelyn; daughter-in-law: Ramona Satre and special friend Tim Thompson of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; step-children: Nadine (husband Paul) Haukoos of St. Peter, Minn., Evonne (husband Fred) Baluski of Greeley, Colo., Nancy (husband David) Bixby of Wells, Rory (wife Amber) Knudtson of Kiester; twenty-one grandchildren: Duane, Daren and Tonya Engebretson; Ryan and Miranda Satre; Bridget, Alesha and Ashlie Satre, Kristine Voeltz, Chad, Brian and Mark Haukoos; Scott, Jeffrey and Cory Steele; Angela and Teresa Meyer; Dana, Justin and Jennifer Bixby; and Brittany Knudtson; four great-grandchildren: Kain Steele, Dylan Steele, Brendan Steele and Alexis Schultz; four brothers: Harvey (wife Bernice) Satre of Albert Lea, Wallace (wife Jeanette) Satre of Aloha, Ore., Duane (wife Mary Ann) Satre of Arlington, Texas, Gene (wife Marlene) Satre of Amboy, Minn.; one sister: Donna Bateman of Greenwood Village, Colo.; six sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Donna Mae Satre; son in infancy; son Kenneth Satre; two brothers: Arlo and Ronald; two sisters: Marjorie Kruger and Geraldine Anderson; and step-granddaughter Anna Lea Bixby.