Raymond H. Briese
1936 – 2005
Raymond H. Briese, age 69, a resident of Parkers Prairie, died on Sunday, May 15, 2005, at the V.A. Hospital in St. Cloud.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 19th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Kirk Lee officiating. Music will be provided by organist Gloria Hollatz and vocalist Dedra Zwieg. Burial will take place at Parkers Prairie Cemetery with full military honors.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service on Wednesday, May 18th, at the Markham-Lind Funeral Home in Parkers Prairie. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements are by Markham-Lind Funeral Service, Parkers Prairie Chapel.

Raymond Harlan Briese was born on April 8, 1936, to William and Marie (Noetzelmann) Briese in Eastern Township, Otter Tail County. He was baptized on June 14, 1936, in Eastern Township by Rev. Lambert Engwold and confirmed at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Miltona on May 21, 1950, by W. L. Hass. He attended Joy Country School and Eagle Bend High School. Following his education, he worked with his father on the family farm. In March of 1959, Ray entered the U.S. Army, serving until February of 1961. He continued serving in the Army National Reserves until February of 1965. On August 22, 1964, he was united in marriage to Ethelwin Theusch. Following their marriage, they made their home in Parkers Prairie where he worked for Parkers Prairie Produce and Culligan Water in Alexandria. He worked as bartender/manager of the Parkers Prairie Municipal Liquor Store and for Penrose Farms in Parkers Prairie. He moved to the St. Cloud Veteran’s Home in 2001. Ray was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and a former member of the Alexandria Eagles Club. He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, gardening and ceramics.

He is survived by his wife Ethelwin, a son Terry Briese of Atlanta, Georgia, a daughter Lorre (and Thomas) McDermott of Big Lake, four stepsons Michael (and Donna) Theusch of Moorhead, Richard (and Sharon) Theusch of Osakis, Edward Theusch of Parkers Prairie and Randy Theusch of Miltona, a brother Butch Briese of Parkers Prairie, three sisters Eleanor (and Alden) Mattocks and Verla Guy, both of Alexandria and Lillian (and Harvey) Hemquist of Parkers Prairie and three grandchildren Theresa and Ashley McDermott and Dillon Theusch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two stepsons, Robert Theusch and Gerald Theusch, four brothers Melvin Briese, Elroy Briese, Lawrence Briese and Arthur Briese and three sisters Sally Conlin, Ruth O’Hern and Luann Briese.