Raymond Ortlepp

Raymond Richard Ortlepp Sr. was born on March 18, 1938 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Ray passed away unexpectedly on February 27th 2022 at Essentia Hospital in Fargo, ND following a heart attack.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Margaret (Peterson) Ortlepp, his sisters Pauline Soberg and Lois Ortlepp, and son Lanny Rock.

Ray was survived by his wife Sharon Ortlepp; his children Clyde Stangle, Lonny (Dennis) Kusick, LaNay Rock, Jessie Rock (Mike Armstrong), and Raymond Ortlepp Jr.; Brother Herman Ortlepp Jr.; Sisters Louise Sansburn, Joan Sullivan, Ellen Johnson, Cheryl (Bernard) Knutson, and Karen Ortlepp (Randy Kartchner); Grandchildren Mitchell, Alex, and Marcus Kusick, Hannah Brady, Forest Rock, Salem Grafenstein, Lucius Rock, Selena Cordova, Oscar and Hazel Armstrong, Lizard  Ortlepp, Aiden McCown, and Sadie and Brody Ortlepp; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In his early years, Ray attended Detroit Lakes Public School. In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army and was trained as a heavy equipment operator and later served in the Vietnam War. After returning home, he trained in the Police Academy and went on to serve as a Police Officer and Chief of Police in Ogema Minnesota.

In 1980, Ray fell in love with Sharon and spent the next 22 years convincing her to marry him. In 2002, they were married and have been inseparable since. He loved his children and grandchildren and shared some of his creations with them.

Ray was a true animal lover and dedicated his spare time to caring for dogs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, horses, and many other stays and rescues. He was a talented self-taught artist and enjoyed crafting handmade native-style weapons, tools, and decorations. For many years, he raised Redbone coonhounds and he won numerous coon hunting competition trophies. He was an amateur boxer and competed in the Golden Gloves Championships in his youth. Ray was a rough and tumble guy who went out swinging. He will be sorely missed by his family and the countless numbers of friends he gathered in his 84 years of living, laughing, and loving

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL BE HELD FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 FROM 11-2  AT THE SHOREWOOD PUB, DETROIT LAKES, MN

TO SEND FLOWERS FOR THE SERVICE, PLEASE CALL LOCAL FLORIST DIRECTLY: DETROIT LAKES FLORAL (218) 844-5860 or CENTRAL FLORAL (218) 844-3664