Obituary of Michael Edward Ragen

Michael Edward Ragen, 88, passed away on March 22, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  

Mike was born on December 18, 1936, in Duluth, Minnesota to Helen Tonskemper Ragen and Harry Francis Ragen. He attended prep school at Lake Forest Academy in Chicago and graduated in 1954. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota, earning a BA in English in 1958. After college, he began his career as a commodities trader, first at Cargill in Minnesota, then at Cook Industries in Memphis, TN. Mike went on to build his own business, Ragen and Company, as a commodities broker. After 23 years in Memphis, Mike and his wife Liz moved to Grand Blanc, MI where he began a new career in the field of inflatable structures. In 2002, he became a partner with The Farley Group, a Canadian air structure manufacturer. Passionate about his work, Mike remained professionally active until the age of 82 but never truly retired. Mike and Liz moved to Minneapolis in 2021 to be close to family.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mike had a deep appreciation for life’s many pleasures. As a younger man he loved sports and the outdoors, and found joy in duck hunting, tennis, and racquetball. He was an avid reader of at least 3 books a week in a variety of genres. He enjoyed traveling and discovering great restaurants. Most of all he adored Liz and their 51 years of marriage. 

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Krohn Ragen, sons Tim Ragen and Dan Ragen, daughters Cindy Ragen, Lisa Ragen Rucker, Christy Goss, Susan Brown, Emily Smith, and Michelle Ragen Zacchini, his sisters Cathleen Jaeger and Elizabeth Shannon, as well as 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Habitat for Humanity or a charity of your choosing.