Raymond A. Kjonaas

Raymond Andrew Kjonaas, 90, residing in Twin Valley, MN, formerly from Georgetown, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Twin Valley Nursing Home of natural causes.

Ray was born on December 26, 1925, to Dayton and Regina Ackland Kjonaas at home in Park Rapids, MN. When he was 7 years old, his family moved near Georgetown, MN, to farm. He received an 8th grade education in a one-room country schoolhouse. When the war broke out after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he convinced his parents to fib about his age so he could join the Army. He was barely 17. After basic training, he was shipped overseas to France, where he drove truck which hauled tanks to the front lines in Germany and retrieved the busted up ones for repairs. He was disabled after having been crushed between two trucks, which broke several ribs, shattered his pelvis, and dislocated both shoulders. The doctors thought he was a lost cause and thought he would die. But after 4 months in the hospital, he lost 3 ribs and a kidney, he was able to recover from his injuries and was sent home. He was honorably discharged and received a purple heart. After recuperating back to almost full health on the farm near Georgetown, he moved to Thief River Falls and went to work, met and then married Elaine Olive Amiot on October 7, 1947. They moved to the farm near Georgetown where they began to raise their family of 6 children, beginning with Susan Petersen Brooklyn Park, Dale Kjonaas Detroit Lakes, Lyle Kjonaas Detroit Lakes. They then purchased a home in Georgetown and moved. The rest of the children soon followed… Lisa Herk and Cameron, of Vergas, Larry Kjonaas and Cindy of Andover and Dayton Kjonaas Felton. They gave him 17 grandchildren, Paula Petersen, James Petersen, Michael Kjonaas, Jon Kjonaas, Rebecca Kjonaas, Emerald Cumberland, Jason Kjonaas, Erin Holtberg, Erica LaForge, Shane Herk, BreAnn Rosenthal, Jarod Herk, Amanda Kjonaas, Cassandra Kjonaas, Tyler Kjonaas, Ashley Kjonaas, and Courtney Kjonaas, 12 great-grandchildren, Tyanna, Sy’rai, Genora, Kilee, Autumn, Jordan, Ashley, Fox, Adrean, Nolan, Kendra, Wylan, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, Audree and Kason. They were divorced in 1991. He then married Judy Lachowitzer and was married to her for 8 years before her passing. He very much enjoyed the time he spent with her and her family. He has 5 step-children from her, Arv Lori Lachowitzer, Judy Donnie Gibson, Jody Lachowitzer, and Chad Julie Lachowitzer, as well as 10 step-grandchildren.

While in Georgetown Ray was mostly remembered as the elementary school janitor and local bus driver for the entire time that the school was up and running. He felt strongly that a proper education was very important, so while his son Larry was going through high school, he took classes so that he could graduate as well. He received a diploma, and even continued on to take a few college courses. He was the mayor of Georgetown for 17 years and accomplished many great things for the town such as bringing in sewer, water, and streetlights for the entire town. He was also a ‘rental’ cop for the city of Moorhead, and a handy/service man for area apartment buildings in FM. He could fix anything that had a motor, or put a motor on anything that needed one. He was an avid hunter, hunting either locally or up at the ‘shack’ with all the men and boys… no girls allowed! And he really enjoyed fishing, he always had a story to tell… heavy on the story! He also loved to dance and was very good at it. His dad, Ole, used to play the fiddle, and his mother, Regina, used to play the organ and accordion, and they would play at many of the area’s barn dances. Ray would get to join in playing the jaw harp or playing spoons. Music had always been big in his life. So was making sure his family had good childhood memories. He would make sure that every summer the family would enjoy a week-long camping trip to Cass Lake. They took several trips throughout the year to visit relatives and cousins near and far. He always liked the latest and greatest things too. He remembered having the first black and white TV in Georgetown… one month before there was even a station in Fargo. They would turn it on just to see the snow! He had the first colored TV, the first console TV, the first TV with a remote the kids loved that… no more standing by the TV being a ‘remote’, the first microwave oven, air conditioner, VCR, and the list goes on! Ray was also very proud of his service in the Army and was a life member of the VFW and American Legion.

Ray is survived by all of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Also his sister Marilyn Larry DeWalt from Pennsylvania, as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Regina and Dayon, two brothers Guy and Ole, and his sister Melvina, a.k.a. Sis.

A memorial gathering will be held Friday, July 8, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 5 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.