Raymond M. Spoden

September 1, 1921 – February 6, 2012 Raymond Martin Spoden, age 91, quietly died at home in Cold Spring the evening of February 6, 2013. Ray was a lifelong residence of Cold Spring. He was born to Joseph and Winifred (Fink) Spoden on Sept. 1, 1921, on their farm just east of Cold Spring. He served under General Patton in the 95th Army Division during World War II. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and drove for the Red Ball Express. Ray married Bernice Evelyn Linder on March 8, 1943 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. This was during the war on a three day leave, before the 95th Division left for Europe. On returning from the war he began work for the Cold Spring Granite Company. Ray was a stone cutter until he retired. He and Bernice were active in square dancing and ballroom dancing. Ray had a love for gardening, with large gardens both at home and for years on his father’s farm. He was still a farmer at heart. He was a long standing member of the American Legion, the VFW, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. He recently received recognition as a 75 year member of the Catholic Order of the Foresters. He was an active member of St. Boniface Parish in Cold Spring. Ray is survived by his five daughters, Sandra (Michael) McLaughlin of Phoenix, Arizona, Virginia Sakas of Phoenix, Arizona, Carol (John) Anderson of St. Joseph, Marian (Gerald) Mulligan of Marshfield, Wisconsin, and Kathleen of Cold Spring; five brothers, Mark, Clarence, and Al of Cold Spring, Joseph of St. Paul, and Harry of Brooklyn Center; one sister, Rose Pfannenstein of St. Cloud; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. He is preceded in death by his wife; parents, and one brother, Arthur. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, Minnesota. Entombment will be in the St. Boniface Parish Mausoleum. A visitation for Ray will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m., followed by a rosary with Catholic Order of Foresters. Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in the St. Boniface Church Narthex. The family would like to thank the first responders, law enforcement, and all who assisted at Ray’s home.