Marlyn Rath

Marlyn "Sonny" Rath, age 80, of Dumont, Minnesota passed away Monday, August 17, 2015. Funeral Services will be held Friday, August 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton with Fr. Stanley Wieser officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke. Visitation will be held Friday from noon until service time at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Marlyn Merele Rath was born May 9, 1935 in Graceville, Minnesota to Emil and Cecil (Rittenour) Rath. He attended school in Wheaton graduating Wheaton High School class of 1953. Sonny married Elayne Gaulrapp on June 17th 1954. He entered the US Army in 1955 where he served until 1961. Sonny was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska for the majority of his time in the service. After his honorable discharge, Sonny returned to Traverse County where he farmed and raised his four children. Sonny started his own business selling aerial rooftop antennae's, and worked many years for Lundquist Farms. He was active in the Sportsman's Club and enjoyed umpiring slow pitch softball. Sonny also enjoyed dancing, hunting, fishing, gardening and canning. Sonny is survived by four children: Mark Rath of Quinlan, Texas; Brenda (Jerry) Fischer of Rosholt, South Dakota; Kathy (Chris) Larson of Grand Forks, North Dakota and David Rath of Wheaton; twelve grandchildren: Amber (Jared) O'Malley of New Effington, South Dakota; Jesse (Kayla) Rath of Killdeer, North Dakota; Chelsea (Nate) Rath of Wheaton; Nicole Martinek of Alexandria, Minnesota; Kristin (Mitch) Frisch of Wheaton; Eric (Crystal) Fischer of Dumont, Minnesota; Trisha (Todd) San Grait of Grafton, North Dakota; Lindsay (Andrew) Johnson of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Troy (Morgan) Nelson of Odessa, Texas; Chris (Theresa) Rath of Raymore, Missouri; Danny (Stacey) Rath of Quinlan, Texas and Jasmine Rath of Malakoff, Texas; and nineteen great-grandchildren. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Cecil Rath, and sister and brother-in-law JoAnn and Marvin Schultz.