Raymond Buell

Raymond (Ray) Buell

passed away on May 7,

2019, at the age of 94 in

Fargo, ND. He was the

oldest of three, and raised

by his father and grand-

mother on the family farm

near Charles City, Iowa.

He proudly served in the

Navy from 1943 to 1947

in the South Pacific as a

Motor Machinist, 2nd

Class. After his discharge,

he met and married Mary

Etta Sonnek of Easton,

MN. They were married

for 68 years and have

three children; Dr. Brad

(Jennifer) Buell, Fargo;

Luanne (Floyd) Duchsher-

er, Minot; and Karen

(Richard) Bakke, Fargo.

They have six grandchil-

dren and 13

great-grandchildren. Mary

passed away on December

1, 2018.

In 1963, Ray moved his

family to Minot from

southern Minnesota, to

accept a job as an agent

with American Hardware

Mutual Insurance. He re-

ceived many awards for

his excellence in sales

and service during his 26

years with the company.

Ray was a leader and

community volunteer,

serving on numerous

committees, and most

often as President of the

organizations he was affi-

liated with. One of his

greatest passions was avi-

ation. The owner of

several planes in his 25

years of flying, he also

volunteered his time with

the Young Eagles pro-

gram, affording over 100

boys and girls their first

experience of flight. He

served as Grand Knight

for the Knights of

Columbus, he was

President of the EAA (Ex-

perimental Aircraft

Assn.); he devoted

numerous hours to the

Air Museum, Hostfest,

Boys Scouts, and to

Bishop Ryan High School

as chairman for 10 years

running the Bishop Ryan

food stand at the State

Fair. Ray was an out-

doorsman and enjoyed

hunting and fishing. To

say he loved the game of

golf would truly be an

understatement as he

played two to three times

a week into his ’90s. He

taught his children,

grandchildren, and many

young people the art of

golf. If weather forced him

indoors, he could a be

found in the throws of a

pinochle or cribbage

game, or busy in his

workshop solving any

number of mechanical

problems as he was a

“jack of all trades” when it

came to fixing the old and

building the new.

There will be no fun-

eral as Ray has donated

his body to UND Medical

School Anatomy Depart-

ment. A family celebra-

tion of life will be held

later this summer.

Ray is survived by: his

children, grandchildren,

sister Anna Marie Struck

and sisters-in-law Joan

Buell and Barbara Sexe.

Ray is predeceased by:

his brother Leo Buell, sis-

ters and brothers-in law –

Harlan Sexe, Walter and

Marvyl Runtzel and Ray

Struck.