Elmer Bray

Houston, Texas

Elmer Theodore “Ted” Bray passed away on May 31, 2026, at his home in Houston, Texas, surrounded by the quiet and comfort he always preferred. He was 70 years old.

Born on May 9, 1956, in Dallas, Texas, Ted was a man who moved through the world with steady purpose. He served in the United States Air Force and later the North Dakota Army National Guard, and went on to build a long career as an aircraft mechanic, working on everything from private planes to Black Hawk helicopters. Texas was always home, but life carried him from North Dakota to Iowa, Kansas, and eventually Washington State, where he and his wife Karen settled into a place that felt truly their own, first on Camano Island, then at Lake McMurray, where they hoped to spend their retirement on the water.

Ted’s greatest devotion was to Karen. Together they built a life around family, meaningful work, and the simple pleasures of being somewhere beautiful and serene. Some of their happiest days were spent on or in the water and exploring the lakes and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. When Karen became ill in 2018, Ted set everything else aside and devoted himself entirely to her care. After her passing, he poured himself into travel, into the RV community where he found friendship and belonging, and into the long hours he spent planning his next adventure, including a recent trip to Scandinavia.

Ted had a lifelong love of geology and the natural world, always returning from his travels with rocks and minerals to add to his collection. His grandchildren, who called him “Hapa,” were a great joy to him, and he delighted in sharing his finds with them. He also loved movies, grilling, Dutch baby pancakes, and especially tacos shared with people he cared about.

Ted was a quiet man, but a sturdy one. He showed his love through reliability, loyalty, and presence. He will be missed.

Ted is survived by his children, Sarah (Chad) Steen, Adam (Ashley) Feist, and Seth Feist; and his grandchildren, Gus and Edith Morse, Faye, Thomas, and Benjamin Feist, and Piper and Romy Steen. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Karen Bray; his parents, Elmer and Patsy Bray; his daughters, Paula and Brenda; and his sisters, Jana Gray and Gloria “Nicey” Foisy.

If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please give to Hospice of the Northwest at https://www.hospicenw.org/foundation/give/donate-today/.

Published by The Minot Daily News, June 18, 2026.