Raymond D. Scheelhaase, age 92, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at home in Cypress House, Swift Current, SK. Ray was born on June 16, 1924 in Cabri, SK and was raised on the family farm in the White Bear district. Ray left school and went to work at an early age to help the family. He often told of his time working on the Shaw Ranch, herding cattle and going on cattle drives, and then in his late teens working in a lumber camp in Northern Ontario. In 1944, Ray married Marian Van Buskirk and they began their 49 years of farming in the Kyle and White Bear district. They retired in 1994 and moved to Swift Current. Ray played ball in his younger years and curled every winter, until he and Marian started golfing while wintering in Mesa, Arizona, which they did for over 20 years. He was a very social person and enjoyed get-togethers where he sang, and played guitar, accordion, or piano. Community involvement and helping out neighbors was also important to him. Ray was an Elks member, served on the local schoolboard, and helped out on many community building projects. He loved animals and over the years many stray dogs and cats found a home on the farm. Ray was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Marian; his sons-in-law, Bob Goodwin and Les Cook; his great-grandchildren, Adam and Sarah Norleen and Ethan Cook; his parents, Nick & Ettie Scheelhaase; and by his brothers, Albert and George. He will be dearly missed by his daughters, Dona Rae Cook and Carol Goodwin; his grandchildren, Denea Rochette (Troy), Carline (Darin) Norleen, Travis (Karin) Josdal, Mart (Sandra) Goodwin, Kris (Kim) Cook; his great-grandchildren, Stevie (Dan) Ruecker, Josh and Emily Norleen, Nicolas and Jonathan Rochette, Noah Goodwin, Tor, Asher, Bryn and Erik Josdal, Makenna and Karter Cook; his great-great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Georgia, and Isabella Ruecker; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Shirkie, Dorothy Lytle, Connie Williams, Mary Anne Van Buskirk; several nieces and nephews who loved and respected him; he will also be missed by people he considered family, his special friend, Dorothy Anning and her family, Mavis (Barry) Peterson and Jack (Winnie) Anning: Jules Rochette: Carol McPhee, Tara (John) & Jaydyn, and Tasha (Mark). A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm at the Kyle United Church, Kyle, SK. Immediately following the Service a luncheon will be held at the Kyle Elk’s Community Hall, Kyle, SK. In memory of Ray Scheelhaase, donations made to the Canadian Cancer Society (43 1st Ave. NE, Swift Current, SK, S9H 2A9) or to the Swift Current SPCA (Box 1163, Swift Current, SK, S9H 3X3) would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements are in care of Swift Current Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. For further information or to leave a personal message of condolence on the family‘s obituary page, please go to swiftcurrentfuneralhome.com

CARD OF THANKS
Our heartfelt thanks to Cypress House - House 4 staff for the loving care Dad received since moving there November 1, 2014, and to Nurse Administrator, Ashley and the House 1 staff for making his last days as comfortable as possible. You showed you really do care and we all felt part of the Cypress House family.
- Dona Rae Cook, Carol Goodwin and families