Raymond Dahlen

Raymond Dahlen, 86 years old, died on September 9th, 2025, with his loving wife of 59 years by his side.

Raymond Lester Dahlen was born in a snowstorm on February 2nd, 1939. The doctor couldn’t make it out to their rural house, so he was delivered by a neighbor lady less than a mile down the road. He was the 5th child born to Roy and Olivia (Ellingson)Dahlen. He was baptized at Christina Lake Lutheran Church, rural Evansville, Minnesota. He attended Kron School for grades 1-7; he attended Evansville Public School for grades 8-12, graduating in 1956. He had six siblings: Rosella, Loverne, Willard, Clarence, Lorraine, and Dean.

He graduated in 1961 from Moorhead State College with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He taught at Bremer Elementary School from 1961-1965. It was during this time, he was courting Carol, and he entrusted one of the students in his class to put letters in the mail for him all addressed to Carol. The union of Carol (Loken) and Raymond Dahlen was on August 27th, 1966 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Kenyon, Minnesota. Ray and Carol lived and taught at Ellsworth, Minnesota during the 1966-1967 school year. They moved to Rockford, Minnesota in 1967 where Ray was an elementary principal of the Rockford School from 1967-1968. He was elementary principal of Buffalo Public School from 1968-1971. He received a master’s degree in 1971 from St. Cloud State College. While getting his masters he met his best friend, Arlen Johnson. Ray was elementary principal at Wanamingo Public School from 1971-1976. He received his 6th year degree in school administration from Winona State College. In 1976, Ray became the superintendent of Ashby Public School and served there until 1981. He was the St. Charles superintendent of schools from 1981-1982. Wanting to return to Ashby, Ray purchased the Standard Station and it became Dahlen’s Short Stop. They owned and operated it from 1983-1986. He returned to the Ashby Public School and was superintendent from 1986- 1994. He was also employed as a part time clerk at the Short Stop from 1995-2009.

Ray believed in a life of service. Where it was needed, he was willing to help. He was summer camp director at Rolling Acres in Excelsior, Minnesota. He served in the military with the Minnesota National Guard from 1957-1963. He served on the Board of Directors of the First State Bank of Ashby from 1995-2009. He was on the Grant County HRA Board from 2003-2011. He was a member of the Ashby Lions Club since 1976, serving as president on three different year terms. And, if you’ve ever experienced Ray peddling raffle tickets, you would know why he was a leader in the Lion’s Den. No one could say no to Ray! He was president and treasurer of the Ashby Community Club. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church, serving as president of both congregations. He served on the District 21 and Region MSHS Board of Directors. He also served on the Grant County Health Board. One of Ray’s proudest achievements was receiving the Ashby Legacy Award in 2021. This award is all about the impact an individual has on the community of Ashby.

Ray enjoyed being outdoors. He liked hunting and fishing. For the past 15 years he was living his best life on the Farm. He was a social man who enjoyed having company, welcoming hunters, and the card games on Friday and Saturday nights in the fall, especially when his nephew Miles was at the table. They had an undeniable bond. He loved spending time with his family. He was kind, content, and thankful.

Ray was a proud supporter of the Minnesota Gophers, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Lynx, and the Ashby Arrows in all of the high school sports.

Surviving him are his wife, Carol, his children: Mike (Karen) Dahlen, Kris (Chris) Roley, daughter-in-law, Jody Dahlen. Grandchildren: Britney (Nick) Jones, Meg (Steaphan) Downer, Ethan Roley, Mya Roley, Aaron Dahlen, Halle Dahlen, and Kellen Dahlen. Great-grandchildren: Destiney (Frankie) Price, Adrian Dahlen, Kathryn Dahlen, Koralie Champagne, and Lenann Downer. Siblings: Ray’s sister, Lorraine and brother Dean.

Preceding him in death were two sons, Jason and Jeffrey, a grandson, Joshua Dahlen, a nephew, Kevin Olson, Ray’s parents, his brothers Loverne, Willard, and Clarence, and his sister Rose Campbell.

Blessed be the memory of Raymond L. Dahlen.

A memorial service will be held 11 am Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church in Ashby. A visitation will be Friday, October 10, at Peace Lutheran Church from 4-7 pm with a prayer service at 3. Burial will be at Pelican Lake Cemetery.