Funeral services for Raymond Ball will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bonnerup Funeral Service chapel in Albert Lea. The Rev. Shane Koepke will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea area veteran’s organizations.

Ray died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at Lake Johanna Shores Nursing Home in Roseville. Ray was born to Ora and Edna (Berthelson) Ball on Jan. 14, 1922, in Albert Lea. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1939. Shortly thereafter, he entered the Army and World War II. He served in North Africa and then Italy, where he was wounded twice and was awarded the Purple Heart. Ray was proud of his military service. In 1946, Ray married Marion Pleiss, and to this union a son was born, whom they dedicated their lives. Ray was a dedicated postal worker. Family members said they cannot remember him missing a day at work. He very much enjoyed his coworkers. He retired from the post office after 35 years of service. He was a great neighbor, never expecting anything in return. He loved to meet and converse with people. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Ray and Marion were constant companions for 69 years, enjoying many hours and friends, golfing and bowling. Ray gave up golfing because of vision problems and believing he was a burden to his golfing buddies. Ray and Marion devoted their lives to raising their son and grandchildren. They were wonderful role models and always ready to help. Their son said he was so lucky that in their later years they were able to travel with him throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. They made the trips so much more enjoyable. At the end of his life, Ray had many weird ideas that cracked his family up. His son misses his father and mother both so much as people all miss their moms and dads.

Ray was preceded in death by wife, Marion; parents Ora and Edna Ball and stepmother Dorothy Ball; father and mother-in-law William and Rhoda Pleiss; sister Francis Wilcutt and husband, Red; brothers Richard and Llyod Ball, brother-in-law Morgan D’Eitienne, sister-in-law Margie McCorkle and her husband, Mac.

He is survived by his son, Steve; grandchildren Scott, Jason (Abby) and Susan; great-grandchildren Jeremy, Elisia, Allison, Samantha and Ava; sister Mary D’Etienne of Dallas, Texas, who has shown so much compassion for Dad; sister in-law Betty Ball and many nieces and nephews. The family thanked Tom Dahlen who always had time for Ray talking about Albert Lea and its residents. Blessed be his memory.