Raymond C. “Ray” Nichols, age 95 of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, at Owatonna Hospital.

Raymond Charles, the son of Vertner and Sylvia (Degen) Nichols, was born on Dec. 16, 1923, in Faribault, Minnesota. He attended Faribault High School and graduated with the class of 1943.

Following high school, Ray served in the Maritime Division of the Coast Guard during World War II.

Following his honorable discharge Ray returned to Faribault and worked at McQuay International for 33 years. He worked different jobs there and the last few years he was the receiving clerk.

On Oct. 19, 1986, he was united in marriage to Darlene Kressin Stemson at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota. Ray and Darlene loved to square dance and traveled all over to dances around the state. They enjoyed traveling to different parts of the country as well.  Ray was an avid reader and especially enjoyed reading about tractors as he was a toy tractor collector and liked going to antique tractor shows.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 43 in Faribault.

Raymond is survived by his wife Darlene Nichols of Owatonna; his brother, Glen (Jeanette) Nichols of Rochester, Minnesota; special friend, LeRoy Splitt of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota; his brother-in-law, Dennis Kressin of Owatonna and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepson, Darrin Stemson and by two brothers, Ken and Jim Nichols.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019at the Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church in Faribault with Pastor Greg Ciesluk officiating. Interment will be held at the Red Oak Grove Cemetery in Austin.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the church on Friday.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault. For online tributes and further information please visit www.ParkerKohlFuneralHome.com.