Raymond R. Sayles, 91, of Austin, Minnesota, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.

Ray was born on March 9, 1923, in rural Austin, Minnesota, to David and Zelma (Staley) Sayles. He graduated from Austin High School in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 where he was a Machinist Mate 1st class and became a 3rd class Petty Officer, serving until May 4, 1946. Ray married Dorothy Gordon on May 10, 1947, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church Parsonage. They were married for 61 years. Ray dairy farmed with his wife and sons until his wife’s death in 2008.

Ray served as a leader of the Enterprise 4-H Club, Rose Creek Rural Fire Board, and the Rose Creek Enterprise Cemetery Board where he was the sexton for many years. He held several offices with the Mower County American Dairy Association and he was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dorothy; son Mark; infant son Jerry; sister Dorothy Lord; and daughter-in-law Debbie Sayles.

Ray is survived by his daughters: Judy (Jim) Bartlett, Austin, Minnesota, Rhonda (Dean) Borgstahl, Owatonna, Minnesota, Karen (Rick) Sundberg, Austin, Minnesota; sons: Wayne Sayles, Austin, Minnesota, Dean (Rhonda Trow) Sayles, Austin, Minnesota; ten grandchildren: Jason (Niki Solum) Bartlett, Austin, Minnesota, Justin (Andrea Hendrickson) Bartlett, Fremont, Nebraska, Julie (Steve) Lange, Austin, Minnesota, Scott (Jenny) Sayles, Austin, Minnesota, Craig (Kacie) Sayles, Rose Creek, Minnesota, Kristin Borgstahl, Owatonna, Minnesota, Rachel Borgstahl, Owatonna, Minnesota, Stephanie (Jason) Helgeson, Hugo, Minnesota, Shannon (Nate) Erickson, Rochester, Minnesota, Sara Sundberg, Rosemount, Minnesota; 13 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Delmer Lord, Austin, MN; sisters-in-law: Lavonne (Gayle) Bergstrom, Adams, Minnesota, Carol Boxham, Bettendorf, Iowa; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Grace Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jeffrey Forbes officiating. Interment will be at the Rose Creek Enterprise Cemetery with Austin Post No. 91 American Legion and Olaf B. Damm Post No. 1216 VFW in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday morning for one hour before the service. The family prefers memorials.