Spencer Straw

Funeral mass for Spencer Ray Straw, 52, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Fr. Joe Vandeberg Celebrant. Pallbearers will be Mike Bjerkaas, Myron Schmidt, Ted Siltman, Dr. Stanley Gallagher, Ron McCullar, Dave Kellen, Steve Kellen, Bobby Schmidt, Wally Hennen, and James Pahl. Organist will be Cindy Sanasack. Interment will be held in Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, South Dakota. Visitation will be held Monday, December 27th from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton. The Ranney Funeral Home of Wheaton, Minnesota is in charge of arrangements.

Spencer was born November 28, 1958 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Marian (Friman) and Dwayne Straw. Spencer was raised in Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell High School in 1977. At the age of sixteen, he began his cooking career at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). During his time at KFC he met his best friend and wife Julie. They were united in marriage on July 25th 1981 at Holy Family Church in Mitchell, South Dakota. They started their home in Mitchell and had their daughter Kathryn and son Luke. In 1985 the family moved to Beresford, South Dakota where Spencer worked at Truck Town. In 1986 they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and had another daughter Abby. A short time after Abby was born the family moved to Wheaton in August of 1992 to own and operate the Country Corner Caf. Spencer and Julie added their last daughter Haley to the family while living in Wheaton. Spencer passed away December 21, 2010 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Spencer loved spending time with his family especially his grand children and aunts. He also liked to find out about his family history and tell stories of past events. Spencer enjoyed the Antiques Road Show and finding treasures . He had a natural instinct for decorating and making things beautiful. Spencer enjoyed going gaming with friends and talking to his cats, Sophie and Francis. He took pleasure in going for a daily drive to check out the sights of Wheaton .

Spencer is survived by his wife Julie Straw of Wheaton, four children: Kathryn (fianc Kiel Drinkwitz) Straw of Wheaton, Luke (Melissa) Straw of Montevideo, Minnesota, Abby Straw of Wheaton, and Haley Straw of Wheaton, three grand children: Bryce, Cora, and Alikka, mother: Marian (Friman) Straw and father-in-law, Paul Gossman both of Mitchell, South Dakota, siblings: Clint (Annie) Straw of highland Village, Texas, Brad (Nancy) Straw of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Brenda (Dave) Pederson of Browns Valley, Minnesota, Kelly (Melody) Straw of Letcher, South Dakota and Linda (Rod) Neugebauer of Mitchell, South Dakota.

Spencer was preceded in death by his father, brother Rolland Straw, and mother-in-law: Delores Tooty Gossman.