Raymond F. Boehlje

Raymond F. Boehlje, 76, of Mason City passed away Friday, November 2, 2018 at Mercy
Medical Center – North Iowa in Mason City.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 A.M., Friday, November 9th at First Covenant Church in Mason City with Rev. Steve Johnson officiating. Inurnment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Thursday at Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., in Mason City.

Raymond Fred Boehlje, the son of Ernest and Erna (Koester) Boehlje, was born March 6, 1942 in Rockwell. He attended country school in Cerro Gordo County until the fourth grade and graduated from Rockwell-Swaledale High School in 1960. Ray continued his education at Mason City Junior College, Iowa State University and the University of North Iowa, finishing his degree at NIACC. After college, he moved to Minneapolis, MN and worked at a paint store. He then returned to Iowa joining the Iowa National Guard and began farming with his father. On August 10, 1968 he married Darlene Johnson from Swea City, IA. They lived on the family farm east of Rockwell where they farmed and raised their family. Besides farming, Ray also owned and operated Ray’s Hardware Store in Rockwell and worked at the local bank. In 1999, Ray and Darlene retired and moved into Mason City. He enjoyed his family, photography, golfing, gardening, camping and traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe.

He was a member of First Covenant Church and served on many teams. He also belonged to the Rockwell Lions Club and Farm Bureau.

Ray is survived by his wife, Darlene, of Mason City; his son, Daniel (Cory) Boehlje of North Bend, WA; four grandchildren, Lea, Mark, Emma and Bryn Boehlje; a sister, Nettiemae (Gene) Sisson of Fort Wayne, IN; a sister-in-law, Roberta Boehlje Eno of Sheffield; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Annette Boehlje; and two brothers, Richard and John Boehlje.