Raymond Edward Rathbun of Fort Pierre, South Dakota passed away at his home on July 23, 2021. He was surrounded by family. Visitation will be from 4:00pm until 6:00pm on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre with a prayer service and rosary beginning at 6:00pm. A funeral service will take place at 9:00am on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Pierre. Interment with full military honors will follow at Scotty Philip Cemetery in Fort Pierre.

Ray was born December 7, 1931, the eighth of nine children to Elzie and Agnes Rathbun in Vinton, SD, just west of Fort Pierre. The family lived there until the Great Depression “encouraged” them to move to town.

After graduating from Fort Pierre High School, Ray served his country as a Marine in the Korean war. He received a Marine Corps Commendation with distinction for valor for his excellent service in the line of his profession in the Korean War. After the war, he returned home, met and married Abbie Soesbe, with whom he shared almost 65 more years. Ray and Abbie’s marriage was blessed with four children: Brad, Carla, Carl, and Anne.

Following his military service, Ray worked for an airline, then ran a Standard Oil station in Fort Pierre. Ray devoted the majority of his working career to the State of South Dakota Department of Transportation, working there for over three decades. He was a devoted member of St. John’s Catholic Church his entire life. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a volunteer firefighter for the town of Fort Pierre for over 30 years.

Ray led an active life and enjoyed many of the joys of the outdoors. He loved playing sports including baseball, basketball, and football in his youth. He shared his love of the river through fishing and boating, first with his kids, then his grandchildren, then his great-grandchildren. His family can easily picture him out mowing the lawn on his riding mower, wearing his mowing hat and his work gloves.

Ray was an avid golfer. He developed his talent for golf following his retirement. Even after starting the game in his 60’s, he achieved a hole in one in Texas in 2006. Ray and Abbie spent winters in Sunrise Beach Texas where he shared his golfing passion with a variety of friends. He was still golfing three to five days a week into his 80’s (even if his pacemaker did mess with his backswing).

Ray loved his family with every fiber of his being. He would light up when he got to spend time with the grandkids and great- grandkids, and his eyes would twinkle when he talked to them – even if they were a bit tough for him to hear sometimes.

Ray did a little of everything. He served his country in the Korean War. He served his state. He served his Church. He served his community as a volunteer firefighter. Most of all, he served his family for all his life, with all his love. In a life where he did so much living, the family he raised was his proudest accomplishment.

He will be lovingly remembered by a large collection of family and friends, including his loving wife Abbie; children Brad (Mindy) Rathbun, Carla (Tom Winter) Bruning, Carl (Lorri) Rathbun, and Anne Rathbun; in-laws Sheryl Hawkins; Rod and Judy Soesbe; Cherie Soesbe; Suzette Adams; grandchildren: Carisa (Aaron); Curt (Cynthia); Corey (Kara); Jennifer; Josh (Amanda); Abbie (Thomas); Nicole (Colby); Ashley (Greg); Carlie; Rayleen (Nick); Jordain; Lindee; Kaycee; thirty great-grandchildren; countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that were loved as family.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Frank and Gerald “Jay”; his sisters Mary, Delores, Louise, Emily, Josephine, and Edith; brothers-in-law Terry and Jack Soesbe, and Jerry Hawkins; and grandson Tyler Rathbun.

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