Howard Ray

Howard N. Ray, age 81, of Grafton, ND, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2025. You could probably find him on the celestial golf course with his buddies, enjoying a beautiful day on the links, after driving by and checking the crops.

Howard Norman Ray was born on June 2, 1943, the son of the late Norman and Erlene (Morden) Ray. His birthday fell in June, the month celebrated with a pearl birthstone and a rose birth flower and also the names of his grandmothers, Pearl and Rose. He had one sister, Connie, whom he loved to pick on but also fiercely protected from the Pembina County boys. Howard grew up on farms near Glasston and Hamilton, ND, attending the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Hamilton. Howard attended country school at the Nevins District #90 schoolhouse until the 8th grade and graduated from Cavalier High School in 1961. He was active in 4-H and had a lifelong passion for anything to do with cars! He attended Mayville State College, graduating in 1965 with a BS degree in Education, Mathematics and Business. It was there that he met his future wife, Karen Sue Lien. They were married on March 4, 1967, in Fordville Lutheran Church.

After teaching math and business for 4 years in Hope, ND, and surveying land for ASCS, Howard joined the staff at Grafton National Bank in Grafton (subsequently First National Bank, Norwest and then Wells Fargo), starting a career in banking that lasted for 50 years. In February 2001, he took a big step in moving to First United Bank where he was named Vice President and Manager in 2009 and eventually elected to the Board of Directors. He retired in 2020 at the age of 77.

Howard was dedicated to his family, community, customers, and friends, and loved to drive around visiting and checking in on everyone, and looking at the crops. He was active in many community organizations over the years, including the Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, ND Bankers’ Association, Grafton Quarterback Club/Spoiler Boosters, Fair Oaks Golf Club, American Bowling Congress, Grafton School Board, Grafton Lutheran Church, and was on the board at the Lutheran Sunset Home. He enjoyed many years of camping at Icelandic State Park, Florian Dam, and Larimore Dam, and heading out to golf in Grafton, Larimore or anywhere he could find to hit some balls with friends.

Howard is survived by his wife, Karen, his children, Philip (Rachel) Ray, Heidi (Travis) Sanger, and Paul (Keeley) Ray, as well as his sister Connie (Jim) Voeller, sister-in-law Gloria Gustafson, and grandchildren, Rylan, Grace, Gabi, Keegan, Annika, Emily, Kaeden, Fallon, Arden, and Farrah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Erlene Ray, in-laws Hjalmer and Gladyce Lien, brother-in-law Harlan Lien, and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM at the Grafton Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Grafton Lutheran church. Friends may also call at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Grafton Lutheran Cemetery in the spring. The funeral service will be live streamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home website.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to the Lutheran Sunset Home, Unity Medical Center Foundation or Grafton Lutheran Church. An online guest book is available at: www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com