Raymond James Walks

Raymond James Walks died Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at Essentia Health, Fargo, ND.

Raymond was born January 9, 1918 in Corrine township to Robert and Josephine (Swanson) Walks. He graduated from Dover School in 1938 and married Clara Thompson on September 24, 1938, Clara's birthday. The marriage ceremony took place in the Lutheran parsonage in Valley City, ND, followed by a picnic in the park and a bridal shower.

Ray and Clara's first home was in the Kindred Hotel where they were both employed while Ray also attended college in Valley City. They moved from Valley City to work on the Sonju farm before they started farming on their own, occupying three different farms in the Courtenay-Wimbledon area during their long farming career. Ray worked a number of additional jobs throughout those years to supplement the farm income, including selling insurance, selling for a cleaning product company, and working at the grain elevator in Wimbledon. Ray and Clara retired in 1980 and purchased a home in Wimbledon, where they lived until 2004 when they moved to New Horizons Manor in Fargo in order to be closer to health care and their children. While retired in Wimbledon Ray continued to work part-time for a number of farmers in the Wimbledon area.

Raymond spent many hours volunteering and serving in community organizations including Farmer's Union, volunteer fire department, 4-H leader, and township secretary. Ray was a charter member of the Wimbledon Museum Board and was actively involved until he moved to Fargo in 2004. He was a member of Eidfjord Lutheran Church, rural Hannaford, serving on church council, cemetery committee, maintenance of buildings/grounds, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and service on numerous Call Committees.

Ray was a member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers and he enjoyed dancing, playing cards, bowling, fishing, attending horseshows and rodeos, watching baseball games, and attending auction sales. Ray was blessed with a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor; he loved to tell jokes and laugh, but found even greater satisfaction in making others smile and laugh. Raymond worked hard, helping out neighbors and family whenever there was a need, and meeting life's challenges with grace and confidence.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Josephine, wife Clara, son Clarence, grandson Benjamin Asher, brothers Walter and Lloyd, and sisters Irene (Pug) Hamilton, Ethel (Roy) Ross, Laura (Walter) Ross, Margaret (Ebert) Carlson, and Florence (Melius) Lenning.

Ray is survived by daughter-in-law Diane Walks, Dilworth MN, granddaughter Michelle (Walks) Kearly, grandson Michael Walks and his fiance Marcie Cook, and daughters Sandra Walks and Dave DeWall, Fargo, Bonnie (Jerry) Asher, Fargo, and their sons Joshua and Steven, Martha Lana and son-in-law John Lana, Memphis TN and their children Emily (Jeremy) Matthews, Andrea (Sean) Young, and Anthony Lana. Ray was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren, Graham, Lana, Caleb, Campbell, Bennett, Parker, Charlotte; one sister, Doris Poss, Austin, TX.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all of the staff at Essentia Health for the excellent, compassionate care Ray and his family received in his final days. The family is also deeply indebted to the staff of Community Living Services for the loving care and good-humored assistance they provided over the past two years which made it possible for Ray to remain in his home.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 10 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown ND, 4-5 pm with a prayer service at 5:00.

Raymond's funeral will be Monday, December 11, 10:30 am at Eddy Funeral Home. Internment will be at a later date at Eidfjord Lutheran Cemetery, rural Walum.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to the Eidfjord Cemetery Fund, the Wimbledon Museum, St. Jude's Hospital, or the Wounded Warriors-Disabled Vets Foundation.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Raymond James Walks , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.