Raymond Nichols

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

Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at 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, MN.

Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Raymond Charles, the son of Vertner and Sylvia (Degen) Nichols, was born on December 16, 1923 in Faribault, MN.  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 October 19, 1986 he was united in marriage to Darlene Kressin Stemson at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church in Austin, MN.  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.

He is survived by his wife Darlene Nichols of Owatonna; by his brother, Glen (Jeanette) Nichols of Rochester, MN; by a special friend, LeRoy Splitt of Blooming Prairie, MN; by his brother-in-law, Dennis Kressin of Owatonna, MN 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.