Raymond F. Meyer

Raymond Meyer, age 85, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully in the presence of family. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Prudence; son, Glenn Krocheski-Meyer (Patrice) and granddaughters, Ava, Mimi, and Vivian; daughter, April Meyer (Eric Peterson) and grandson, Kai Peterson; in-laws, Dean Shepersky and Dona Meyer, and beloved nieces and nephews. Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Elsie Meyer; and siblings, Clarence Meyer, Doris Shepersky, and Belva Blue (George).

We celebrate the good life that Raymond lived, and keep him in memory, where he will forever be his "best self."

Born in Huron, SD, he was the youngest of four children. Little Raymie grew up on a beef farm outside Cavour, SD, attending the local all-grades school and living the life of a farm kid in the 1940s and 50s. He was a tinkerer and a fixer, did 4-H projects, and made community with the many relatives and family friends in the area. After high school, he earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at South Dakota State University (1960), where he met a number of lifelong friends. He went on to complete master's degrees in EE and Business at the University of Minnesota.

In Minneapolis, Ray met Prudence Schmidt, and they married in 1962. On that solid foundation, they raised two children, Glenn and April, making their home in Bloomington where they worked hard and played hard. The family has been fortunate in staying near each other, sharing a lifetime of celebrations and milestones. In particular, "Opa and Oma" showered their grandchildren with love and attention.

He applied his skills in the early days of the computer industry with firms like Remington Rand, Honeywell, and Control Data, where he had a long career. Ray pivoted from technology to real estate, where he and Prudence put their work ethic and skills to good use.

While they didn't formally retire, Ray and Prudence made more time for fun later in life. They found joy in European travel, family and friends, activities through church, and especially local German clubs (Spielmannszug Minnesota, German-American Institute, and GAFA). In 2003 they were the "Prinzenpaar" for the local Karneval Club, and had a ball with the many events of their court.

Passing in care of family and hospice, Raymond ended his long fight with Parkinson's. The body was frail but his mind was clear, and his dry wit and good nature were felt by all. Blessed are the many caregivers who enriched his life.

Funeral service Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 11 AM at Woodlake Lutheran Church, 2120 W. 76th St., Richfield, with visitation beginning at 10 AM. Private interment.

Memorials preferred to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (https://www.lssmn.org/get-involved/donate/memorials-and-tributes) or Woodlake Lutheran Church (https://woodlakechurch.org/give/)