Raphael Bruns
February 17, 1932 ~ December 27, 2011
Remembering the Life of Raphael H. (Ray) Bruns
Raphael H. (Ray) Bruns, age 79, of Hickson, ND died Tuesday, December 27th, 2011, at Essentia Health of Fargo. He was born February 17, 1932, in Lismore, MN, to John and Elizabeth (Burkard) Bruns. Ray graduated from Worthington High School, Worthington, MN. He also went to Hanson Mechanical Trade School in Fargo as a diesel mechanic for 2 years. He served his country in the Navy from June 19th, 1952 and was honorably discharged June 18th, 1956, he served in the Korean War, and was stationed in the Philippines.
Raphael married Victoria Schnoor on September 29, 1957, in Sisseton, SD. The couple lived in Fargo for their entire married life of 54 years and had 8 children.
He worked at Tillie's Skelly Services then opened the Mobile Station with his brother Elmer in 1958, in 1961 they opened Bruns Brothers Enco, Radiator and Towing Services until 1969. Ray opened Bruns Radiator at 1014 Main Ave. in Fargo until he retired in 1991. He still enjoyed going down to his son Mike's shop to work on radiators and gas tanks up until his death.
He was a lifetime member of St. Anthony's Church in Fargo.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his boys, going to the dirt trackracing, and watch his son, grandson and granddaughter race, and watching his great grandson race BMX bikes. He loved spending time with his family and many grand & great grand kids. Raphael also liked taking short trips with his lovely wife Victoria, whom he always told her how much he loved her a million times over.
Raphael is survived by his wife, Victoria Bruns, Hickson, ND; his 8 children, Debbrah Olson, Halstad, MN; Michael (Debbie) Bruns, Fargo, ND; Melody (Kirk) Matheson, Orem, Utah; John Bruns, West Fargo, ND; Victoria (Philip) Maenza, Mapleton, ND; Richard Bruns and Vanessa Wedell, West Fargo, ND; Robert (Angie) Bruns, Fargo, ND; and Timothy Bruns, Fargo, ND, 32 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.
Other survivors included two sisters, Mathilda Pearson, Worthington, MN, Shirley (John) Schmidt of Emmetsburg, Iowa, three brothers, Elmer (Janice) Bruns, Fargo, ND, Ervin and Valery Bruns, Adrienne, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Elizabeth Bruns, four sisters, Marcella Welder, Gladys, Ella May and Lucille, and one brother Jerome.
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Fargo ND
I am very sorry to hear about Ray’s passing. My condolences go out to you and your family. May the spirit of God be with you all during this difficult time. Peace be with you.
Hugs,
Elaine
West Fargo ND
My family and I were so sorry to hear of Ray’s passing. Ray will be remembered as a kind, loving and wonderful person. A life well-lived. A person well-loved. We are all truly blessed to have known him. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I want to express my deepest sympathy to my Mom and Siblings on the passing of our father, grand father and great grand father. He was an honorable man with many fine qualities, such as interity, honesty, hard working, but most of all a love for our Mom and all of us. He always wanted to look on the brighter side of things, even when things got tough. So, now it is up to us to raise the bar and honor his legacy he has left behind, by up holding the values he lived by and always smiling. Dad has worked hard his whole life (even that day), so now it time for him to rest. Heaven got another angel the day you left us. So Dad,God be with you ’til we meet again. From one of your little girls, M.
Fargo ND
Ray was a great man who would take the shirt off his back to help someone. Always had a smile on his face and a wave in his hand. He will be missed greatly. I am sorry that his family lost such a great person way too early.