Ray LeClerc

 Ray LeClerc, age 80, of Grand Forks, entered his eternal home with our Lord on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Born August 1, 1940, Ray was the sixth of eight children born to Alex and Mae (Schumacher) LeClerc, in Grafton, ND. His formative years were spent with school months in Devils Lake and summers farming outside of Drayton. He fondly recalled several years of custom combining throughout the Midwest before heading back to school each fall. He graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1958.

In December 1961, Ray married Myrna Mae Anderson of Drayton. In May 1962, he graduated from North Dakota State School of Science in Civil Engineering. The two made their home in Grand Forks, where they raised their three daughters.

Ray began a 33-year tenure for the City of Grand Forks in 1966, beginning in the Engineering Department and retiring as the Platting and Right-of-Way Officer. He was also a real estate broker, certified land surveyor, and in 2000, he was awarded the peer-nominated ND Professional Land Surveyor’s “Survey Excellence” award.

Outside his professional life, Ray amassed a newsworthy collection of Schlitz memorabilia through his antiquing adventures. A farmer at heart, his great joy, though, was to putz on their farm on south Belmont Road.

After 42 years together, Myrna passed away in 2004. In God’s gracious Providence Ray met Judy Anderson of Grafton and the two were married in 2012. They fit a lifetime of love into the eight years the Lord gave them.

Ray was a longstanding member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Throughout his life, he lived out his faith through his gift of service, ever ready to lend a hand. His steady nature and reliable common sense drew others to seek his advice. He was, at his redeemed core, a God-honoring, hard-working, kind man of integrity.

Ray is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter Kimberly (Dana) Young and their children Ashley (Andrew) Jacobson with Calvin, Lewis, Lucy, William, and Christiana; Seth (Joy) with Rosalie; Bryce (Caroline) with Lena; and Courtney; daughter Heide (Charlie) Becker and their sons Charlie and Noah; and daughter Holly (Dean) Ramsett and their daughters Peyton and Paige. He is also survived by brother Dale (Betsy) LeClerc, sisters Lillian (Gordon) Shafer and Rosalie (James) Ringstrom; as well as Judy’s family—Scott (Jayne) Anderson and Laurie (Mikael) Blackberg with Zane (Laura), Moriah, and Bethany.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Myrna, and second wife, Louella (Schumacher); siblings Beverly, Gerald, Ronald, and Warren; mother-in-law Steffie Gwiazdon, brother-in-law Charles Misialek; and Judy’s grandson, Jonah Borth.

With grateful thanksgiving, Ray’s family acknowledges the exceptional care the staff of Valley Senior Living’s Hearthstone Village poured into Ray’s final seven months. Bless you for providing dignity in his last days. Thank you, as well, to Doctor Jon Allen, for his many years of care for and friendship with Ray.

Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1710 Cherry Street South, Grand Forks. A prayer service is planned on Friday, March 5, 2021, 5:00-7:00 pm with a 7:00 PM prayer service at the church, and a funeral service on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 2:00 pm, with a visitation one hour prior. Interment will be at Memorial Park South, Grand Forks.

Memorial suggestions: Immanuel Lutheran Church (www.immanuelgf.com), Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (www.dakotaranch.org), Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).