Raymond F. Prom, 93, Sauk Rapids

June 8, 1922 - January 4, 2016

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids for Raymond Prom, who died Monday at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center. Rev. Ralph Zimmerman and Rev. Ronald Weyrens will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 PM Friday at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids. Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 will pray at 5:00 PM followed by the Catholic United Financial praying the rosary. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 PM Friday at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids.

Ray was born June 8, 1922 in St. Cloud to Henry and Henrietta (Baasen) Prom. He married Esther A. Pogatschnik on September 23, 1943 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph, MN. After Esther’s death in November, 2002, Ray married Esther Botz on December 13, 2003 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids. Ray was a WWII Veteran serving in the US Navy Seabees. His name will be placed on the St. Cloud VFW War Memorial Monument this spring. He was in the auto parts and repair business most of his life, retiring from East Side Auto Parts in Longmont, CO in 1986. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Catholic United Financial, Sauk Rapids Senior Citizens and a lifetime member of the Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992. Ray enjoyed Sunday drives, fixing cars, car races, dancing, playing cards and the accordion, and spending time with his family. He was a hardworking man with a strong faith.

Survivors include his children, Janet (Tom) Ryan of Boulder, CO, Thomas (Jan) Prom of Monticello, Barbara (Verl) Bell of Dows, IA, Susan (Roger) Linz of Sauk Rapids, JoAnne (David) Mendel of St. Cloud, Kenneth (Linda) Prom of Shoreview, Ruth (Brian) Liestman of Great Falls, MT, David Prom of Sauk Rapids; 17 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. He also had three step children and several step grandchildren.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Esther A. Prom and Esther Botz-Prom; brothers, Alphonse, Alex, Ervin, Felix, James and Leo Prom; sisters, Bernice Thomas, Celestine Neeser, Caroline Brink and great grandchildren, Zachary Buckentine and Katelyn Gabrielson.

Dad spent the last 4 months at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center in Building 50-1. The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff for their excellent care and compassion for our dad and our family. Words are inadequate to express our thanks for the wonderful care he received.

Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice.