Raymond Bernard Stocker, 99

Raymond Bernard Stocker of East Grand Forks, MN passed away peacefully April 8, 2026 at home surrounded by family and God’s grace.

 

Ray was born January 2, 1927 in Jordan, MN. the son of Fred and Mary (Walarius) Stocker.

He moved with his family to East Grand Forks when he was 10 years old and continued his education at the country school and then graduated from Central High School in town.

 

On June 27, 1949 Ray was united in marriage to Helen Joyce Bridgeford at Sacred Heart Church in East Grand Forks, MN.  Ray and Joyce spent the next year in Chicago, IL where Ray attended TV repair school.  They returned home to raise a family of two girls and five boys. Ray farmed with his brother Ralph growing wheat, barley and potatoes. He also worked for Crystal Sugar during the sugar beet campaigns.  After retiring, Ray would be back at the farm spring and fall helping his sons with planting and harvesting.

 

Ray enjoyed snow skiing and racquetball.  He was a league bowler and curler and loved dancing with Joyce.  He also loved reading, crossword and jigsaw puzzles.  Golf was his favorite though and he became quite proficient at it.  He carried a very respectable handicap and made two holes-in-one and a double eagle on a par 5 hole.  Ray loved animals and it was rare that the family dog was not sitting beside him in his recliner.  He even managed to train a grey squirrel to take peanuts from his hand.

 

Community was very important to Ray.  His church community awarded him the Lumen Christi award for his volunteer service to church and school.  He was the first lay school board member.  Ray also was a lector and sacristan.  He trained altar servers, served at funeral Masses and he was a member of the church council. 

 

Volunteering outside of his church community kept Ray busy as well.  At Altru hospital he was part of the auxiliary working to keep the books for the gift shop and for special fund raising events.  Ray also worked at the blood bank doing intake and gave gallons of blood himself.  He delivered Meals On Wheels for nearly 20 years.  Once, while making a delivery, he saved a man who had collapsed on his living room floor.   

 

Ray is survived by his seven children: David (Sharon) Stocker, Greg (Sally) Stocker, Scott (Jan) Stocker, Joellen Cariveau, Tim (Becky) Stocker, Monica (Rick) Vollmuth and Paul (Becky) Stocker; 20 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren along with siblings Betty Engelstad, Robert Stocker and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joyce, to whom he was married for 73 years, parents Fred and Mary Stocker, his brother Ralph Stocker, and his son-in-law Galen Cariveau.

Ray had a great, deep faith in the Lord, loved his wife and children and will be missed dearly. 

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Bob and Marj Stocker for their loving care of dad, especially after mom died.

We would like to express our gratitude to Hearts In Action Hospice for their tender care of our family.

In lieu of flowers consider a donation to your favorite charity.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11:30 AM, Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 200 3rd St. NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721. 

VISITATION: One hour prior to the Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart on Wednesday. 

INTERMENT: Resurrection Cemetery