Wallace "Wally" Raasch

An outdoor funeral service for Wallace "Wally" Herman Raasch, age 89, of Starbuck, MN formerly of Morris, Minnesota, will be held on Friday, October 9, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Synnes Cemetery, rural Alberta; guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs.  Reverend Dell Sanderson will be officiating.  A public visitation will be on Thursday, October 8, from 4-6:00 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris.

There will be a live stream of Wally’s service starting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020. To view the service on the Pedersen Funeral Home website, scroll to the bottom of Wally’s page and click the link.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to accommodate gatherings of up to 250 people. The use of face masks by attendees is required, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming is available in most situations.

Wallace Herman Raasch was born on November 24, 1930 in Synnes Township, Stevens County, Minnesota.  He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran – Synnes Township on December 14, 1930.  Wally attended country school, District #58 in Synnes Township until the 8th grade.  Following his schooling, he started farming.  In 1950, at a New Year’s Eve dance, Wally was introduced to Liane Wellman; the two began dating and were married in Alberta at Trinity Lutheran Church on February 1, 1952.  They made their home on a farm south of Alberta; they made a few other moves before settling on a farm south of Chokio in Stevens Township.  To this marriage, they were blessed with six daughters.  Liane died unexpectedly in August of 1988.  Wally was remarried on June 8, 1991 to Luella “Punky” Wirtjes at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chokio.  They continued to live on the farm until 1996, when Wally retired, and they moved into Morris.  In August of 2018, Wally moved into the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck where he lived until his death.

Wally was a member of Trinity Lutheran -Synnes Township, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and most recently, Faith Lutheran Church in Morris.  In earlier years, Wally enjoyed farming, hunting, fishing and spearing, playing cards, especially whist, and mowing the lawn.  He was always willing to helps others, which continued through his life.  He enjoyed dancing and listening to old time and country music. In his later years, Wally enjoyed watching the birds and bird feeders, being outdoors, watching the news, and reading the Stevens County Times.  Most importantly, Wally cherished the time he was able to spend with his six daughters and their families; he especially enjoyed going for rides with his daughters to see the crops and wildlife.

Wally died peacefully, on Saturday, October 3, 2020, at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, MN.  He was 89 years old.

Wally is survived by Luella (Punky) Raasch; his six daughters: Dorothy (Jim) Schneider of Alberta, Karen (Kevin) Zimmerman of Lino Lakes, Bev (Jeff) Berg of Brainerd, Joyce Gausman of Morris, Donna (Scott) Eul of Morris, and Dee (Pat) Daly of Morris; grandchildren: Michael (Shelly) Schneider, Tom (Heather) Schneider, Matt (Desiree) Schneider, Justin (Amanda) Zimmerman, Laura (Eric) Kaiser, Mitchell Zimmerman, Trisha (Chad) Pendill, Phil (Kami) Berg, Brian (Brenda) Flaten, Jen (Joe) Fults, Blake (Laurie Wulff) Flaten, Sara (Ray) Gentry, Katie Eul, Jacob (Nikki) Daly, Jessica (Christopher) Grandalen, and Abby Daly; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Linda Wellman of Elbow Lake and Stella Raasch of Morris; brother-in-law, Kenny Wellman of Prairie du Sac, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Liane; son-in-law, Phil Gausman, brothers: Delbert, Lavern, Lloyd, and Orville; sisters-in-law: Rosie, Marianne, Sylvia, and Lani; and one brother-in-law, Gary.

Wally’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Minnewaska Lutheran Home for loving and caring for their Dad the last two years, they were blessed to have that extra time with him and owe that to you.  Thanks a Million!

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIALS PREFERRED TO KNUTE NELSON HOSPICE, MINNEWASKA LUTHERAN HOME, SYNNES CEMETERY ASSOCIATION OR FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Wally.