Richard Shelton "Dick" Ray

With great sadness our dear, Richard Shelton “Dick” Ray, passed away on October 20, 2023, at the age of 73 in Littleton, CO.  He was born on May 28, 1950, in Minneapolis, MN to Robert G. Ray Jr and Jean Frances Ray.  He was an amazing person full of love, compassion and a witty sense of humor. Dick had a way of making you feel that you were special and valued. He was always interested in the lives and endeavors of others and was an exceptional conversationalist who was knowledgeable about so many subjects.

He was curious, an avid reader, and a life-long learner. After graduating from Owatonna High School in 1968 he enrolled at Drake University in Iowa. In 1971 after learning his parents and three siblings were moving to Flagstaff, AZ he took a year break from his studies and moved to Flagstaff. After a year he returned to Minneapolis and finished his BS in psychology at the University of Minnesota. After relocating to Littleton, CO he earned a Master’s Degree in General Studies at the University of Denver.

Dick had a wide range of hobbies and interests. He enjoyed flying radio-controlled planes, computer flight simulator, building model cars, playing chess, poker, golfing, tennis, fishing (with a focus on carp, “for there fight”), traveling with trips throughout the US, the Amazon and Kenya, taxidermy, boating, birdwatching, civil war and western history. He also had a great love of photography which he enjoyed for most of his life.

He was also a big supporter of the adoption of animals, raising numerous cats’ and getting so much enjoyment watching and appreciating their quirky personalities.   

Throughout his life Dick met people and created long-term friendships. He had a great group of friends that he met in grade school at Christ the King Elementary and the W. 52^nd St/S. Abbott Ave neighborhood in Minneapolis, his high school friends from Owatonna, and his friends from work. Maintaining those friendships till the end.  

At the end of his working career Dick dedicated 29 years to US West Dex Yellow Pages, where he excelled in the sales and commission divisions in Minneapolis and Denver.  

In his retirement he began to split his time between his home in Littleton and Clitherall Lake in Battle Lake, MN at the home of his good friend Glenna Thulin. He enjoying hosting family and friends, shepherding them around the sites of Otter Tail County, and teaching his great nieces and nephews to fish, paddleboard, and drive the boat. He especially enjoyed watching the loons, orioles, and tracking the arrival of the resident eagle’s and their new eaglets at the west end of the lake. He was a big fan of football, especially the Minnesota Golden Gophers (frustrating), the Vikings (frustrating), and Denver Broncos.

Dick is survived by his sisters Mary Michelle Jandric, Mary Ellen Goddard (Russell), brother Paul (Mary Patricia), nephews Bill Jandric, David Jandric (Jaclyn), Aimee Ketchum, Stacy Johnson (Brandon), Adrian Heath (Jessica), Lindsey Fleegle (Jason), and sixteen great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Jean and his brothers, Rob and Bill.

Over the years Dick rescued several beautiful cats that he so loved and enjoyed.

If anyone would like to make a donation in his memory, The Humane Society of the South Platte Valley is the nonprofit he supported.

Join us in celebrating the life of Richard Shelton Ray, an amazing person who touched and influenced the lives of so many.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew and cherished him. He was a treasured gift that enriched all of our lives.