Geraldine Raaen

Geraldine "Gerrie" Evelyn Raaen, 83, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls.  She was born December 21, 1926, in Fingal, North Dakota, to William and Julia (Grandrud) Fossen. She attended elementary and two years of high school at Fingal and Nome, North Dakota. Her father died when she was twelve, leaving his wife and six children of whom Gerrie was the oldest. The family did well despite the loss of their father. Gerrie attended her last two years of high school at Little Falls, Minnesota, while she lived with her aunt and uncle, Ardie and Eddie Fossen. After graduating from high school, she attended Concordia College. After the second year she accepted a position teaching elementary education in Leonard, North Dakota. During her second year of teaching she married Bill Raaen, on November 24, 1948, in Nome, North Dakota. While at Leonard, her two oldest sons, Joel and Paul were born. After a year of Bill’s attending graduate school at the University of North Dakota, he taught two more years at Leonard before the family moved to Maddock, North Dakota, where Bill taught at the Benson County Agricultural and Training School. While there, Gerrie was very active in church and community events. Her three youngest sons, Philip, John, and Richard were born in Maddock. In 1958 Bill was awarded a John Hay Whitney Fellowship to Yale University. Gerrie was very adept in taking care of the details of moving and adapting to a new setting.  While in the East the family made it a point to soak up as much of Eastern culture as possible. After the year at Yale, Gerrie and Bill remained five more years in Maddock. In 1963 Bill applied for a teaching position at Fergus Falls High School. For the next twenty years the family thrived in Fergus. In 1983 Bill accepted a position with the Department of Defense, teaching music and English at the Lily Hill Middle School on Clark Air Base in the Philippine Islands. Since all her sons had by now left home, Gerrie was free to enjoy the activities at Clark Air Base including playing golf on the beautiful 18-hole golf course and socializing with officers’ wives, including several Filipino women. While Bill finished his career at Fergus High School, Gerrie was active in Bible study groups, reading club, faculty wives, and birthday parties. She particularly enjoyed PEO where she met many outstanding women. She was a long time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They lived at Jefferson Place for thirty-seven years and thoroughly enjoyed the location and their neighbors. This summer they moved to Pioneer Pointe, a place they quickly learned to love and appreciate. Gerrie lived a full life, enjoying her extended as well as her immediate family and her many friends. She prided herself in being efficient and using good business sense. She was always concerned about the welfare of others. Wherever help was needed, she was ready and willing to pitch in. Many people have felt the impact of her generosity. Gerrie is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Bill Raaen of Fergus Falls, and five sons: Joel (Kris) Raaen of Faribault, MN, Paul (Beth) Raaen of Norwalk, CT, Philip Raaen of St. Paul, MN, John (Jacki) Raaen of Fargo, ND, and Richard (Roberta) Raaen of Andover, MN, thirteen grandchildren, one great granddaughter, four sisters:  Bernice Gray of Hibbing, MN, Irene (James) Roe of Kindred, ND, Ruth Chose of Moorhead,  and JoAnn Pedersen of St. Peter, MN, one brother, William "Bill" (Carol) Fossen of Dallas, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a 7 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Memorial Service:  2 p.m. Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy:  Reverend Paul Nelson Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com