Ray Pladson

Ray Pladson, 79, of Fargo, ND and formerly of Hatton, ND passed away Monday, August 12, 2019 at Bethany on 42nd in Fargo. Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hatton Prairie Village Chapel in Hatton. A visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the nursing home.

Ray was born September 22, 1939, to Willie and Ida (Norgaard) Pladson of Hatton, ND where he attended rural grade school, Newburgh #6, and graduated from Hatton High School. He was baptized and confirmed in Goose River Lutheran Church rural Hatton.

He entered the U.S. army in 1958, received his basic and advanced training at Ft. Hood, Texas and was assigned to the 4th Armored Division in Ulm, Germany as an Armored Personnel Carrier Driver for the next 18 months. After his discharge from the Army in 1960, Ray attended North Dakota State University and received a Business Economics degree in 1965.

The next 10 years he worked for the Boeing Co. in Seattle, Washington as an airline analyst in the International Sales Division. Also during this time he worked approximately one year for Kerr Steamship Co. as an inland traffic coordinator for ocean going container ships.
He was married to Betty Gillaspie of Seattle, Washington from 1969 to 1973.

Ray returned to North Dakota in 1975 and began a 22 year career with Butler Machinery Company of Fargo, the Caterpillar dealer in North and South Dakota. He worked in several management positions and at the time of his retirement in 1998, he was the company Agricultural Marketing Manager.

He enjoyed international traveling and reading and researching history. He was a member of the Hatton American Legion Post 70 where he served as Post Historian and also belonged to the Kringen Lodge, Sons of Norway Club in Fargo.
In 2008, Ray received the “Excellence in Local History” Award from the State Historical Society for individuals or groups dedicated to local or regional history and serving as a role model in excellence.

He is survived by a sister, Ruby Brown of Sacramento, California; and two brothers, James and Russell (Jean) Pladson of Hatton, nine nieces and nephews: Pamela (Jeff) Brandon, Moorhead, MN, Vickie (Tom) Kirk, Sacramento, CA, Paulette (Loren) Amundson, Fargo, ND, Dennis Brown of Portland OR, Renae (Roger) Gjelstad of Stanley, ND Barbara (Mike) Grande, Fargo, ND, Rick (Lori) Pladson, Clyde (Dawn) Pladson of Hatton, ND and Lori (Corey) Kritzberger, Portland, ND, nieces –in-law Linda Erickson and Patricia Pladson of Hatton, ND, 26 grand nieces and nephews including his godson, Jacob Pladson and 34 great grand nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Grace Erickson and brother Edward Pladson, sisters-in-law Thelma Pladson and Joyce Pladson, brothers-in-law Ernest Erickson and Robert Brown, nephews Lyle Erickson and Harlan Pladson, grandnephew Donnie Hall and great grandniece, Ella Marie Amundson.

In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to Hospice of the Red River Valley.