Raymond W. Salo

Raymond W. Salo, 81 of Cloquet passed away Sunday, August 21, 2005 at his home. He was born August 6, 1924 in Cloquet to William A. and Fannie (Rintala) Salo. Raymond graduated from Cloquet High School and attended Duluth Junior College and Texas A&M College in College Station, Texas. Raymond served as a Sergeant with the 103rd Infantry Division of World War II, seeing action in France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Army of Occupation Medal. He was a Life Member of the VFW, Life Member of the Military Order of the Cooties, Life Member of the VFW National Home, Department of Minnesota VFW National Home Chairman, VFW National Aide-de-Camp, 103rd Infantry Division World War II Association. Raymond was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the Cloquet Golden K Kiwanis. He was the Commander of Hebert-Kennedy VFW Post 3979, VFW 8th District Commander, Seam Squirrel Military Order of the Cooties, and 2nd Area Commander of the Military Order of the Cooties. Raymond worked for the Carlton County Oil Company, Duluth and Northeastern Railroad and retired as a Conductor from the Great Northern-Burlington Northern Railroad after 37 years of service. He was a life member of the United Transportation Union. Raymond married Jane Helen Nelson on April 10, 1954 in Cloquet where they made their home and raised their family. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, William A. and Fannie Salo; maternal grandparents, Charles and Hannah Rintala; paternal grandparents, Andrew and Matilda Salo. He is survived by Jane, his wife of 51 years; daughters, Janine (Dennis) Johnson of Bettendorf, IA; Gretchen Bastien of Forest Lake; Faith (Tim) Dillon of Hermantown; son, Charles (Jill) Salo of Cloquet; sister, Elsie (Rudolph) Kajander of Coon Rapids and Apache Jct., AZ; brother, Dr. Kenneth (Ann) Salo of Champlin; grandchildren, Seth and Hannah Johnson, Hope and Christine Ellingson, Stacy, Kristi and Eric Blair. Funeral services were held on Thursday, August 25, 2005 in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet. Military honors were accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Burial was in Sunrise Memorial Park in Hermantown. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.