The Mass of Christian Burial for Bob and Marjorie Raney, lifelong Lemmon residents, will be held at 10:30am MT, Saturday, March 8, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon. Fr. Tony Grossenburg will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon with full military honors afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon.
Robert Fulton Raney, Jr. passed away at age 96 on Friday, February 21, 2014 in Salem, SD.
Robert was a lifelong resident of Lemmon, but had spent the past five months at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and John Barnett.
He was born July 11, 1917 in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his twin brother Richard D. Raney were given up for adoption in August of that year, and came into the care of the Children's Home Society of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. In January, 1918 they were adopted by Josephine and Robert F. Raney, Sr., and were taken to their new home in Bison, S. D. In 1921 the family moved to Lemmon, where Robert was active in all athletics and graduated from Lemmon High School.
Robert attended the University of South Dakota from 1937 to 1939, became interested in aviation and earned his private and commercial pilot licenses. He traveled to California where he worked in an aircraft factory, learned to be an aviation mechanic, and was certified as a flight instructor. He moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, in 1940 and began to instruct pilots for the Army Air Corps. On January 17th, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie K. Phelps at St. Mary's Church in Lemmon. They shared 71 years of marriage and raised five children. Marjorie passed away October 13th, 2013.
In June 1943, during World War II, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and later went through basic infantry training, where upon completion he was transferred to the European Theater. There he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a pilot flying forward observation missions in Germany and Czechoslovakia till the end of the war.
Upon discharge from the Army in April of 1946, Robert returned to Lemmon where he assumed management of Raney's Buick Garage. The business was a regional supplier of Buick automobiles, GMC trucks, and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. For several years he farmed his father's land near Lemmon. He was a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lion's club and the American Legion. He served as Chairman of the Dakota Air Fair, on the Volunteer Fire Department, and as an Alderman of the 1st Ward. He maintained his interest in aviation, owning several aircraft and participating in aviation events across the Dakotas.
He was a member of the board of directors at the First National Bank for several years. A long term friend of Joe Foss, the Governor appointed him to the State Military Affairs Board where he served as Chairman from 1955 to 1959. Working with the Governor, he was directly responsible for Lemmon becoming the first city in the state to have a National Guard Armory. He was passionate about life in the Dakotas including fishing, game bird hunting, aviation, golf, and most particularly meeting people and maintaining friendships. He occasionally delivered new Cessna aircraft, flying them from Wichita to Alaska and the Yukon, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed. He competed regularly in area golf tournaments, including winning the Lemmon City Championship. Through the years friends from across the United States would visit him to hunt and fish, relationships that he also thoroughly enjoyed. They were always accompanied by his faithful dog, Speed.
Marjorie and Bob are survived by their five children, Dennis Raney of Sun Valley, Idaho; Mary Jo Button of Grenville, South Dakota, Margaret Ann Williams of Lemmon, Michele Barnett of Salem, Barbara Twedt of Castle Rock, Colorado, and thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Bob also survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Davis of Sioux Falls and Carol Ann Parker of Rapid City.
Robert Fulton Raney, Jr. passed away at age 96 on Friday, February 21, 2014 in Salem, SD.
Robert was a lifelong resident of Lemmon, but had spent the past five months at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and John Barnett.
He was born July 11, 1917 in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his twin brother Richard D. Raney were given up for adoption in August of that year, and came into the care of the Children's Home Society of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. In January, 1918 they were adopted by Josephine and Robert F. Raney, Sr., and were taken to their new home in Bison, S. D. In 1921 the family moved to Lemmon, where Robert was active in all athletics and graduated from Lemmon High School.
Robert attended the University of South Dakota from 1937 to 1939, became interested in aviation and earned his private and commercial pilot licenses. He traveled to California where he worked in an aircraft factory, learned to be an aviation mechanic, and was certified as a flight instructor. He moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, in 1940 and began to instruct pilots for the Army Air Corps. On January 17th, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie K. Phelps at St. Mary's Church in Lemmon. They shared 71 years of marriage and raised five children. Marjorie passed away October 13th, 2013.
In June 1943, during World War II, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and later went through basic infantry training, where upon completion he was transferred to the European Theater. There he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a pilot flying forward observation missions in Germany and Czechoslovakia till the end of the war.
Upon discharge from the Army in April of 1946, Robert returned to Lemmon where he assumed management of Raney's Buick Garage. The business was a regional supplier of Buick automobiles, GMC trucks, and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. For several years he farmed his father's land near Lemmon. He was a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lion's club and the American Legion. He served as Chairman of the Dakota Air Fair, on the Volunteer Fire Department, and as an Alderman of the 1st Ward. He maintained his interest in aviation, owning several aircraft and participating in aviation events across the Dakotas.
He was a member of the board of directors at the First National Bank for several years. A long term friend of Joe Foss, the Governor appointed him to the State Military Affairs Board where he served as Chairman from 1955 to 1959. Working with the Governor, he was directly responsible for Lemmon becoming the first city in the state to have a National Guard Armory. He was passionate about life in the Dakotas including fishing, game bird hunting, aviation, golf, and most particularly meeting people and maintaining friendships. He occasionally delivered new Cessna aircraft, flying them from Wichita to Alaska and the Yukon, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed. He competed regularly in area golf tournaments, including winning the Lemmon City Championship. Through the years friends from across the United States would visit him to hunt and fish, relationships that he also thoroughly enjoyed. They were always accompanied by his faithful dog, Speed.
Marjorie and Bob are survived by their five children, Dennis Raney of Sun Valley, Idaho; Mary Jo Button of Grenville, South Dakota, Margaret Ann Williams of Lemmon, Michele Barnett of Salem, Barbara Twedt of Castle Rock, Colorado, and thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Bob also survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Davis of Sioux Falls and Carol Ann Parker of Rapid City.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Bob and Marjorie Raney, lifelong Lemmon residents, will be held at 10:30am MT, Saturday, March 8, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon. Fr. Tony Grossenburg will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon with full military honors afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon.
Robert Fulton Raney, Jr. passed away at age 96 on Friday, February 21, 2014 in Salem, SD.
Robert was a lifelong resident of Lemmon, but had spent the past five months at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and John Barnett.
He was born July 11, 1917 in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his twin brother Richard D. Raney were given up for adoption in August of that year, and came into the care of the Children's Home Society of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. In January, 1918 they were adopted by Josephine and Robert F. Raney, Sr., and were taken to their new home in Bison, S. D. In 1921 the family moved to Lemmon, where Robert was active in all athletics and graduated from Lemmon High School.
Robert attended the University of South Dakota from 1937 to 1939, became interested in aviation and earned his private and commercial pilot licenses. He traveled to California where he worked in an aircraft factory, learned to be an aviation mechanic, and was certified as a flight instructor. He moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, in 1940 and began to instruct pilots for the Army Air Corps. On January 17th, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie K. Phelps at St. Mary's Church in Lemmon. They shared 71 years of marriage and raised five children. Marjorie passed away October 13th, 2013.
In June 1943, during World War II, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and later went through basic infantry training, where upon completion he was transferred to the European Theater. There he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a pilot flying forward observation missions in Germany and Czechoslovakia till the end of the war.
Upon discharge from the Army in April of 1946, Robert returned to Lemmon where he assumed management of Raney's Buick Garage. The business was a regional supplier of Buick automobiles, GMC trucks, and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. For several years he farmed his father's land near Lemmon. He was a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lion's club and the American Legion. He served as Chairman of the Dakota Air Fair, on the Volunteer Fire Department, and as an Alderman of the 1st Ward. He maintained his interest in aviation, owning several aircraft and participating in aviation events across the Dakotas.
He was a member of the board of directors at the First National Bank for several years. A long term friend of Joe Foss, the Governor appointed him to the State Military Affairs Board where he served as Chairman from 1955 to 1959. Working with the Governor, he was directly responsible for Lemmon becoming the first city in the state to have a National Guard Armory. He was passionate about life in the Dakotas including fishing, game bird hunting, aviation, golf, and most particularly meeting people and maintaining friendships. He occasionally delivered new Cessna aircraft, flying them from Wichita to Alaska and the Yukon, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed. He competed regularly in area golf tournaments, including winning the Lemmon City Championship. Through the years friends from across the United States would visit him to hunt and fish, relationships that he also thoroughly enjoyed. They were always accompanied by his faithful dog, Speed.
Marjorie and Bob are survived by their five children, Dennis Raney of Sun Valley, Idaho; Mary Jo Button of Grenville, South Dakota, Margaret Ann Williams of Lemmon, Michele Barnett of Salem, Barbara Twedt of Castle Rock, Colorado, and thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Bob also survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Davis of Sioux Falls and Carol Ann Parker of Rapid City.
Robert Fulton Raney, Jr. passed away at age 96 on Friday, February 21, 2014 in Salem, SD.
Robert was a lifelong resident of Lemmon, but had spent the past five months at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and John Barnett.
He was born July 11, 1917 in Sioux City, Iowa. He and his twin brother Richard D. Raney were given up for adoption in August of that year, and came into the care of the Children's Home Society of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. In January, 1918 they were adopted by Josephine and Robert F. Raney, Sr., and were taken to their new home in Bison, S. D. In 1921 the family moved to Lemmon, where Robert was active in all athletics and graduated from Lemmon High School.
Robert attended the University of South Dakota from 1937 to 1939, became interested in aviation and earned his private and commercial pilot licenses. He traveled to California where he worked in an aircraft factory, learned to be an aviation mechanic, and was certified as a flight instructor. He moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, in 1940 and began to instruct pilots for the Army Air Corps. On January 17th, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie K. Phelps at St. Mary's Church in Lemmon. They shared 71 years of marriage and raised five children. Marjorie passed away October 13th, 2013.
In June 1943, during World War II, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and later went through basic infantry training, where upon completion he was transferred to the European Theater. There he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division as a pilot flying forward observation missions in Germany and Czechoslovakia till the end of the war.
Upon discharge from the Army in April of 1946, Robert returned to Lemmon where he assumed management of Raney's Buick Garage. The business was a regional supplier of Buick automobiles, GMC trucks, and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. For several years he farmed his father's land near Lemmon. He was a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lion's club and the American Legion. He served as Chairman of the Dakota Air Fair, on the Volunteer Fire Department, and as an Alderman of the 1st Ward. He maintained his interest in aviation, owning several aircraft and participating in aviation events across the Dakotas.
He was a member of the board of directors at the First National Bank for several years. A long term friend of Joe Foss, the Governor appointed him to the State Military Affairs Board where he served as Chairman from 1955 to 1959. Working with the Governor, he was directly responsible for Lemmon becoming the first city in the state to have a National Guard Armory. He was passionate about life in the Dakotas including fishing, game bird hunting, aviation, golf, and most particularly meeting people and maintaining friendships. He occasionally delivered new Cessna aircraft, flying them from Wichita to Alaska and the Yukon, an adventure he thoroughly enjoyed. He competed regularly in area golf tournaments, including winning the Lemmon City Championship. Through the years friends from across the United States would visit him to hunt and fish, relationships that he also thoroughly enjoyed. They were always accompanied by his faithful dog, Speed.
Marjorie and Bob are survived by their five children, Dennis Raney of Sun Valley, Idaho; Mary Jo Button of Grenville, South Dakota, Margaret Ann Williams of Lemmon, Michele Barnett of Salem, Barbara Twedt of Castle Rock, Colorado, and thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Bob also survived by two sisters, Mary Ellen Davis of Sioux Falls and Carol Ann Parker of Rapid City.
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