Raymond Curtis

Minot

Raymond S. Curtis, 109, of Minot, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at Minot Lodge Senior Living.

Ray was born February 11, 1917 at Portal, N.D. to Willis and Edith (Olney) Curtis. He was raised on the family farm his father had homesteaded until the age of 10 when the family moved to Minot. He went on to graduate from Minot High School in 1935 and attended a business school in 1938. During this time, Ray and his brother went back to farming at the homestead in Short Creek Township where Ray met Ellen Johnson, the love of his life.

Because of the war in Europe during this time young men were being drafted, rather than wait to be drafted, Ray enlisted in the Army. He was called to active-duty January 30, 1941. He and Ellen were united in marriage February 22, 1942 in Reno, Nev. as Ray was stationed in San Francisco at the time. Ray served most of his time in the US but spent the last year of his service in France and Germany. Following his honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant in December 1945, Ray and Ellen returned to the Curtis family farm in Short Creek Township. Throughout the years, they raised their five daughters along with farming small grains. They retired in 1983 and moved to Minot.

Ray was very active his entire life volunteering and serving his church, community and country. He was a voracious reader, enjoyed playing cards and bingo. He continued to go bowling, golfing and playing pool well into his retirement.

After Ellen passed away in December 2014, Ray moved to the Minot Lodge Senior Living (formerly The Wellington) and has made many friends there.

Ray has been an inspiration to all who have known him by his resilience, kindness, leadership and grace. Ray was always walking every day, going to exercise classes and using the stationary bike up until a month before his death. Most importantly Ray was a very loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be missed dearly.

Ray’s loving family includes his daughters, Judy Antrim & Julie Antrim, both of LaPorte, Ind., Constance Toffle, Morgantown, W. VA., Teresa (Terry) Glaspey, Portal, N.D., Rebecca (David) Gray, Alexandria, Minn.; Ten grandchildren, Seventeen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and nephew Hal Scarbrough, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert, sisters Helen and Betty, wife Ellen and sons-in-law Don Antrim, Jim Antrim and Roger Toffle.

Celebration of Life for Raymond Curtis: 1 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026 at First Lutheran Church, Minot. To view a livestream of the service or share memories access his obituary at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, N.D.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the start of the funeral service in the church.

Memorials are preferred to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot has been entrusted with arrangements.

Published by The Minot Daily News, June 25, 2026.