Services for Roy Kermit Raben

 

Roy Kermit Raben passed on March 6th, 2019 at his home in Cle Elum, WA.  He felt so blessed with his life and was looking forward to being united with God, family and friends in Heaven.  We are pretty sure there is a card game going with his brother Keith and he is giving out lots of hugs.   We are not sure there is lutefisk in Heaven but guessing he is enjoying lesfe.

Roy was born on January 9th, 1934 in McIntosh, MN and attended school there. He served in the army from 1953 to 1955.  He met the love of life, Judy Newton, while working road construction in Montana.  They married in 1958.    They had two daughters whom he was convinced were much more than he’d hoped for or deserved. They raised their family on a farm NE of McIntosh and later built a home on Union Lake. Of life's treasures he counted his friends as priceless... from those early days of Montana roadwork; the Minnesota cow and kid wrangling, farming years; his pipeline family; ice fishing buddies; Union Lake friends that turned into family; square dancers; card players; dice shakers (“6-5-4 and a whole lot more”); McIntosh friends; Texas snowbird friends; and the Newton-Raben families. Roy never met a stranger and loved to visit with everyone often sharing memories of his pipeline days.  He truly enjoyed his job working as a heavy equipment operator laying natural gas pipeline in many states.

“Who’s ready to go skiing” was often heard as he loved to pull kids skiing or tubing and also take friends on a pontoon lake tour.  Having the neighbor kids stop in for a game, visit or share Judy’s cookies made his day. Roy gave the best hugs and convinced his grandchildren they were never too old to give hugs or be hugged. Roy often expressed how blessed he was to see his grandchildren grow into adulthood as his own grandparents died when he was very young. A whist game, good book or western movie were among his favorite past times. He was a mentor to many, not only in cards but also in life.  One bit of advice was "when in doubt, grand", which applied to both whist and life.  Roy had a special place in his heart for animals, there were a few dogs and cats lucky to be part of the Raben family.

After retirement, Roy and Judy enjoyed their winters in the Rio Grande Valley of TX until Roy’s failing health.  They moved to WA to be near family in December 2017.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Christian and Mabel, sisters Beverly Jean and Florence, brother Keith and granddaughter Meagan.  He is survived by his wife Judy; daughters Nicki (Cliff) of Cle Elum, WA and Lori (Eric) of South Lyon, MI; grandchildren Jamie (Nicole) Bly, Justin (Lanis) Bly, Nicholas (Nichol) Bly, Samantha Strauss, Tyler Strauss; great grandchildren Patrick, Kellen, Ella and Arthur Bly; and his nieces Debbie, Melissa, Anita (“the Raben girls”), and Julie Maggard.

Blessed be his memory.

 

 

Richards Publishing

P.O. Box 159
239 2nd Ave
Gonvick, MN 56644
Telephone: (218) 487-5225
email: richards@gvtel.com

 

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