Ralph Adrian "Ray" Friedt, 87 of Rochester passed away peacefully Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Sunrise Cottages Assisted Living Center in Rochester.

He was born April 18, 1925 in Mott, North Dakota to Alexander and Anna (Hellman) Friedt. On June 26, 1946 he married Mary Anne Klein at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester. She passed away May 16, 2012.

Ray grew up in Mott and attended school there. After 3 years at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND, he moved to Rochester and worked at Waters Conley. He accepted a position at Mayo Clinic in 1947 as a laboratory technician in pathologic anatomy. During his tenure at Mayo, he took technical training at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, in 1969 and at the University of Toronto in 1972. In 1972 he was named chief anatomy technician.

Ray was in charge of administering the anatomy donor program from 1972 until he retired in 1986. He also did homograph-related work for the Department of Neurosurgery and other surgical departments at Mayo Clinic.

At the age of 7, Ray began playing in a band with his brothers. After moving to Minnesota he continued to play in his own group, the Happy Go Lucky polka band. He enjoyed playing the saxophone, farming, camping, playing cards, woodworking, dancing, going to breakfast with the morning church group and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Ray and Mary also enjoyed many winters in Arizona and summers at their cabin in Wisconsin.

He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, belonged to the Eagles club, and was a long-time member of Resurrection Catholic Church.

Survivors include his children, Garold "Gary" (Cindy) Friedt of Rochester, DeLora (Bruce) Bartelt of Belle Plaine, Roger (Paula) Friedt of Rochester, Rhonda (Jim*belated) Grob of Auburn, CA, Renee (Jay) Ean of Rochester, Karri (Forrest) Boe of Hastings, Jay (Karen) Friedt of Rochester and Sara (Mark) Krier of Mazeppa; 26 grandchildren and 26 great-great grandchildren; siblings Bill (Pat) Friedt of Mott, ND, Valentine (Jeanette) Friedt of Mott, ND and Anne (Frank) Bergenheier of Dickenson, ND. In addition to his wife, Ray was preceded in death by 4 brothers, a grandson and a son-in-law.

Memorials are suggested to Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer's research and The Nature Conservancy.

A Memorial Mass for Ray will be 11:00AM Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Resurrection Catholic Church officiated by Rev. Kevin Connelly. Friends may call at River Park Chapel of Macken Funeral Home Wednesday from 5:30PM to 7:30PM and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.