Raymond Carlton Oines

Raymond Carlton Oines

Raymond C. Oines, 90, of Arlington, S.D., formerly of Bruce, S.D., passed away Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at the Brookings Health System in Brookings, S.D. Funeral services were held at Grace Lutheran Church in Bruce.

Raymond Carlton Oines was born near Arlington on Aug. 4, 1922, to Alfred and Inga (Kittleson) Oines. They spent time living in Washington state and near Dempster, S.D., before settling on the family farm near Bruce.

Ray enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was stationed in the Delaware/New Jersey area. This is where he met his wife-to-be, Dorothy (Dot) Griffith, of Wilmington, Del. They were married on June 17, 1944. He spent time stationed in Hawaii. After his service duty, he and Dot decided to visit his parents back in South Dakota with their firstborn, Patricia Ann. Dot had an idea that this is where they would stay as Ray’s heart was back in South Dakota on the farm.

They raised a family and farmed over the next 45 years. Linda, Judy and Ray Jr. joined the family along the way. Ray and Dot retired and moved to Bruce in 1990. They enjoyed their home in Bruce and spending their winters in Florida and then in Texas.

Ray had many health issues over the last several years, which forced them to give up their time away in the winter. His health got to a point at which he needed nursing care, and he entered the Golden Living Care Center in Arlington in 2010. He entered the hospital on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, the night before his 90th birthday. He had all of his family around to celebrate this special day, including his 1-week-old great-granddaughter. Ray passed away peacefully on Aug. 10 in the Brookings hospital.

He was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church, serving on the church council and in many other capacities. He was a lifetime member of Bruce American Legion Post 200 and the DAV.

Ray had a few hobbies which included hunting and fishing. He was an avid deer hunter until health wouldn’t allow him to any longer. The most important thing in his life was his family. He loved dearly his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of Arlington; his children, Pat (Bill) Moe of Bruce, Linda (Jim) Mannerud of Brookings, Judy (Dan) Norman of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Ray Jr (Julie) of Brookings; as well as nine grandchildren and spouses, and eight great-grandchildren; his siblings, Joan (Roy) Hurd of Beresford, S.D., Alleen (Chuck) Buehner of Circle Pines, Minn., and Alan (Bonnie) Oines of Park Rapids, Minn.; his sister-in-law, Edith Mirto of Newport, Del., and a brother-in-law, Bill (Betty Lou) Griffith of Middletown, Del.; along with several nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, siblings George Oines and Mildred Pottratz, and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law.