Passed away on Sep 29, 2010

RAYMOND R. “RAY” RAETHER Black River Falls, WI Raymond R. “Ray’ Raether, age 91, of Black River Falls, died Wednesday evening, September 29, 2010 in Family Heritage Care Center, Black River Falls, under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice. Raymond Richard Raether was born on May 8, 1919 at Fall Creek to August and Elsie (Moldenhauer) Raether. He was raised at Fall Creek and graduated from Fall Creek High School. Ray was the last living member of the 1937 Fall Creek championship basketball team which won the Wisconsin state title at Madison. While he was in school, Ray was employed at his father’s welding/blacksmith shop. He was a World War II, U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1942 to 1945. He served in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany and was a member of a signal corps support unit under General Patton. He was in charge of a mobile shop, repairing generators. Ray married Inez A. Olson on June 13, 1942 in Chicago. Inez kept house for her father and brother while Ray completed his Army obligation. Following his discharge from the Army, Ray and Inez settled in the Town of Albion, Jackson County where they had lived since 1946. Inez Raether died on May 4, 2007. After he and Inez settled at Black River Falls, he owned and operated his own welding and blacksmith shop. In 1956, he became employed by the Jackson County Highway Department where he worked as a mechanic and welder and became a “jack of all trades.” At the time of his retirement in 1983, he was the shop foreman. He had been employed by the Jackson County Highway Department for 27 years. Ray was member of the Little Norway Lutheran Church and a 50 year member of the Neil S. Lewison American Legion Post #439 of Melrose. He also was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a great advocate of veterans’ rights and benefits. Ray was an excellent craftsman who enjoyed woodworking, raising gladiolas, building bluebird houses and feeding birds. He and his wife, Inez, greatly enjoyed holding craft sales at their home. The couple also enjoyed attending senior meals. In his earlier years, he enjoyed team bowling, hunting and fishing. He also had served on the Albion Town board. Survivors include a daughter, Rae Ellen (Joel) Hickey of Black River Falls; a son, Galen Raether of Hatfield; grandchildren, Patrick (Laura) Hickey, Chris (Natasha) Hickey, Misty (Kurtis) Kelley, and Mindy Raether; great grandchildren, Casey, Garrison, and Colin; a sister-in-law, Louise Raether of Yachats, Oregon; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. In addition to his wife, Inez, Ray was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Harvey, and 2 sisters, Ruth and Esther. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, October 4, 2010 at Little Norway Lutheran Church, rural Black River Falls. Rev. Thor Rykken will officiate and burial will follow in Little Norway Lutheran Church Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Sunday from 2 to 4 P.M. at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, and at the church on Monday from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. Memorials are preferred to the Little Norway Organ Fund or Black River Memorial Hospice. Online condolences are available at www.buswellfuneralhome.com