Ray Lee Flesner
PIERCE – Funeral services for Ray Lee Flesner, 86, of Pierce, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Foster. Rev. Jerome Leckband will officiate the service. Burial will be at Prospect View Cemetery in rural Pierce. Military rites will be conducted by Tomek-Otto Post 72 American Legion of Pierce and the United States Army Honor Guard. Organist will be Kristi Leckband, who will accompany the congregational hymns “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Jared Halsey, Adam Halsey, Trenton Halsey, Joshua Flesner, Lucas Flesner, Alek Flesner, Stephanie Anderson, and Ben Timmerman.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church in Foster.
Mr. Flesner died on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, at Osmond General Hospital, surrounded by his family. Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Pierce is in charge of the arrangements.
Ray Lee Flesner was born on Aug. 23, 1935, at home to Bernard Albert and Tollie Lee (Pierce) Flesner. He was baptized on April 1, 1945, at Crawford Valley Church. He attended elementary school in Antelope County and graduated from Pierce Public School in 1952 at the age of 16. He farmed for two years while waiting to turn 18 and enlist in the U.S. Army. He was on active duty from 1954 to 1956 and was honorably discharged. He married Marilyn Uttecht on Aug. 23, 1958, at Zion East Lutheran Church in rural Hoskins. To this union were born three children: Carmen, Kevin, and Candace (Candy). After being discharged from the Army, he worked as a mechanic in Norfolk, and then was employed at Pender for a farmer who raised feeder cattle. Once married, he worked at Simpson’s Construction and then started a lifelong career in farming which included a dairy operation that Ray and Marilyn ran for 23 years. Ray loved the Lord, his country, and his family. He served as elder and other various positions at church and led the youth group. He loved to farm, hunt, play cards, bowl, and dance. In his later years, much to his surprise, he found he liked the game of golf. He especially enjoyed the 11 winters he and Marilyn spent in Surprise, AZ, making new friends and enjoying activities such as bocce ball, shuffleboard, pool volleyball, and dancing to live music at the Tiki Bar.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marilyn Flesner of Pierce; son, Kevin (Cindy) Flesner of Pierce; daughter, Candy Timmerman and Joe Lengyel of Norfolk; son-in-law, John (Brooke) Halsey of Norfolk; eight grandchildren, Jared Halsey and fiancee Tam Vogt, Adam Halsey, Trenton Halsey and fiancée Kayla Grimm, Joshua Flesner, Lucas Flesner, Alek (Jacy) Flesner, Stephanie (Mike) Anderson, Ben (Brittney) Timmerman; three step-grandchildren, Nicolle (Blake) Mosel, Saige Francis and fiancee Jake Rowlett, and Summer Francis; eight great-grandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren; siblings, Sharon (Jim) Riedel, Betty Matuska, Ronnie Flesner; sisters-in-law, Helen Flesner, Darlene Flesner, Carolyn Noelle and David Scott; brothers-in-law, Dick Ferris, Merle (Shanda) Uttecht, LeRoy Uttecht, Lowell (Kathy) Uttecht, Dwaine (Pat) Uttecht; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Art and Elizabeth Uttecht; daughter, Carmen Halsey; siblings, Howard Flesner, Dorothy (Darrell) Skeels, George (Peggy) Flesner, Everett (Beverly) Flesner, Edwin (Ida) Flesner, May Flesner, Freda (Art) Edwards, LaVonne Ferris, Willis Flesner, Alvin Flesner, and Marlene (Lynn) Jourdan; sister-in-law, Leila Uttecht; brother-in-law, Larry Noelle.
Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com
