Ray James Hiltunen

Ray James Hiltunen, 80, of Duluth, formerly of Virginia and Minneapolis, died peacefully at Aspira St. Luke’s Hospital on November 4, 2024, with Finnish music serenading his transition. A memorial service will be held in Tower later in May. Arrangements are provided by Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

Ray was born on February 9, 1944 in Minneapolis. His mother, Ingrid Kainula Hiltunen was living there awaiting the return of her husband from WWII. Sadly, Ray’s father, 1st Lieutenant Ray Jacob Hiltunen, originally from Vermilion Lake Township, was shot down in a glider over the Netherlands in September of 1944 and died. Ray never met his father. His mother later met and married Oscar Sooger of Virginia in 1950 so Ray was raised there, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1962. He attended Bemidji State College and went on to graduate from the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis.

Ray married Mary Jorenby on December 31,1966. They settled in Minneapolis and raised their son, Don. Ray had several jobs over the years like selling fancy suits at Daytons in downtown Minneapolis and working for the Model Cities project. His favorite job was bus driver for the Minneapolis Public Schools. He always had a corny joke for his students.

Ray was a proud Finn. His mother, father, and step-father were all Finns. He could speak Finnish which was appreciated by his younger family members.

Things Ray loved during his life were summers as a child at the family cabin on Bass Lake (the one near Gilbert and Biwabik) and family camping trips at Lake Kabetogama. He had fond memories of the annual reunion picnics at the Hiltunen Farm. In the 80’s he made cassette tapes of loon calls and sold them at craft fairs with his wife Mary. He made recordings of the Sooger family oral history for which his family is grateful. He was honored to be part of the Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church Choir, especially when they sang Handel’s Messiah at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. For many years, he looked forward to his annual canoe trip in the Boundary Waters with his AA group. His other favorite places were the former Little Sweden Resort at the Cook end of Lake Vermilion and the former Cliff ‘n Shores Resort on Lake Superior where owner Anna Mae was a friend. Later in his life he enjoyed time at his sister’s home on Lake Vermilion.

Ray is survived by his son, Don Hiltunen (Jen) of Eagan; grandchildren, Maia Cross (Thomas) of Maple Grove and Alex Hiltunen of Minneapolis; sister, Elaine Sooger McGillivray (Peter) of Lake Vermilion-Tower; niece, Erin McGillivray of Minneapolis; nephew, Joe McGillivray (Christine) of Brooklyn Park, cousins and great nieces. Ray is also survived by long-time friend, Roger Anderson, of Two Harbors, who was there for Ray so often over the years.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Ray Jacob Hiltunen; mother, Ingrid Sooger; stepfather, Oscar Sooger; and his wife, Mary Hiltunen.

The family sends special thanks to the staff and friends at Lakeside Manor in Duluth where Ray enjoyed living for 16 years. Finally, the family cannot thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Aspira St. Luke’s Hospital enough for their loving care of Ray during the last days of his life.

Memorials may be sent to World Vision (www.worldvision.org) or the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center (www.vermilionculturalcenter.org).