Edward R. Ries, age 78, of Spring Valley, Minn., died Tuesday March 18, 2025, at Spring Valley Living.
Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday April 5, 2025, at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley.
Edward (Eddie) Ralph Ries was born May 23, 1946, to Ralph and Mary (Schwickerath) Ries in New Hampton, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm near Elma, Iowa, where he learned the value of hard work. He graduated Immaculate Conception Academy in 1964, and went to work at Oliver Farm Equipment Company in Charles City, Iowa. He married Jean Ede on April 20, 1968, and they resided in Charles City before purchasing a farm north of Elma, Iowa, where they raised their two children. Ed farmed and continued to work at Oliver which later became White Farm Equipment. Ed switched jobs and worked at SMIco, manufacturing pallets in New Hampton until they closed. Ed then went to work at Zeimetz Motors in Spring Valley until he retired. Ed and Jean sold their homestead in 1992 and moved to Spring Valley, Minn., where they lived until after Jean’s death. Ed was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and was moved into Spring Valley Memory Care. When his condition worsened, he was then transferred to Spring Valley Living Nursing Home, where he passed away peacefully on March 18 under the watchful care of St. Croix Hospice.
Ed was always a busy person, if he wasn’t outside working in his yard, he could be found in his shed tinkering and building something with his unending scraps of wood. If you were to find Ed sitting down he would be watching westerns on his TV.
He is survived by his son Kevin (Shirley) Ries of DeWitt, Mich., his daughter Kelli (Tony) Larimer of Spring Valley, Minn.; his grandchildren Ashley (Bryce) Schmidt of Rochester, Minn., Taylor Zimmerman of Eden Prairie, Minn., Danielle Ries of Farmington Hills, Mich., Gabrielle Ries, and Courtney Ries; two step-granddaughters, Shelby Larimer of Dover, Minn., and Erin Larimer of Spring Valley, Minn.; two brothers, Mike Ries of Cresco, Iowa, and Gary (Mary Jo) Ries of Elma, Iowa; and two sisters, Elaine (Chuck) Laures of Osage, Iowa, and Marilyn (Gary) Schaudenecker of Alta Vista, Iowa; his brother-in-law Donald (Joanne) Ede of Maynard, Iowa, and sister-in-law Linda (Ede) Hiemstra of Waterloo, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jean, his parents Ralph and Mary, his brother John Ries, infant sisters Janice and Mary Ann, his sister-in-law Janice (Mike) Ries, his niece Deb Ries, and nephew Dwan Wadell.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley, Minn., on Saturday April 5 from 1-4 p.m., with Father Parrott officiating a small prayer service at 2 p.m. Interment will be at St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery in Spring Valley at a later date. Hindt Funeral Home of Spring Valley is in charge of arrangements.
The family wishes to thank all those who cared for Ed in the last seven years of his illness. Memorials are requested to the family.
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