Raymond John Gunstad was born on April 7, 1913, in Rocksbury Township, Pennington County, the son of John and Anna (Anderson) Gunstad. He was baptized in Mavie Township by the Reverend Henry Pope. He attended school in Pennington County Districts 133 and 178. As a young man, he worked with his father on the family farm and also learned the carpentry trade from his uncle Hank Gunstad.

A veteran of World War II, Raymond entered the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling on March 18, 1941. He attended Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was stationed at Fort Warren, Wyoming; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Fort Dix, New Jersey. In his military service overseas he was a Tank Commander in the Allied Forces North African Campaign in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia and in the Italian Campaign from southern Italy to Rome.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army in Camp Maxey, Texas, on September 29, 1945, Raymond returned to the St. Hilaire area. His principal occupation was as a carpenter; he also engaged in farming. He was a skilled mechanic and served as a volunteer fireman. He was a member of the Thief River Falls American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117.

Throughout his life, Raymond was an avid reader as well as a clever and creative craftsman. In his retirement, he enjoyed woodworking and made humorous pieces of folk art which he shared with members of his family.

Raymond's last year was spent at Oakland Park Nursing Home. He made many friends at Oakland Park and was honored earlier this year as their Valentine's King.

Raymond is survived by a sister, Dorothy Hanson, Thief River Falls; a brother, Robert Gunstad, Thief River Falls; nephews Robert Gunstad, Jr. (Leslie), San Diego; Charles Hanson, Moorhead; James Gunstad, St. Cloud; nieces Katherine Hanson, St. Paul, Debra Rustad (David), St. Hilaire and Rose Neitz, St. Cloud; and several cousins, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna, in 1970 and his father, John, in 1974.