Ray Engemoen

Funeral Service

Saturday, November 1, 2014

2:00 p.m.

Tompkins Funeral Chapel

Ray Alton Engemoen was born on a farm about 15 miles from Hanley, Saskatchewan, on June 8, 1924, the second of six children born to Halvor and Mathilda Engemoen.

In 1926 the family moved to a farm west of Wadena where, with the exception of 1A½ years in Flin Flon, Ray spent the entire rest of his life. He began school in Tiger Lily and finished in Paswegin.

In 1942 when he turned 18 he went to Regina to enlist in the R.C.A.F., but much to his dismay was turned down due to a heart condition. The fact that he had been unable to "do his duty" bothered him for the rest of his life. However, he was much needed on the farm. He well remembered working on threshing crews for 25A� an hour. In 1953-54 he worked for H.B.M.&S. at Flin Flon, first with a geophysical survey crew on Schist Lake and later underground. Then he moved back home where he stayed until 2008 when he moved to Wadena. He worked hard to build up a lovely herd of Hereford cattle.

For a few years Ray was interested in taxidermy and had quite a few birds in his collection. He also enjoyed softball and baseball, playing first base, and of course began curling when the rink was built in Paswegin. He enjoyed many farmers' spiels in Wadena with the local boys. Ray played both violin and guitar and built up a huge collection of musical instruments. For a few years he played with the Paswegin orchestra at local dances. Hunting and fishing were favourite pastimes. For 25-plus years he kept rainfall and temperature records for the atmospheric environment of Canada which meant taking readings twice daily.

Ray was a quiet individual, very artistic, a gentleman to the core. He mostly kept his opinions to himself! He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed in an Anglican service in Paswegin. He expressed his faith in an Easter poem which is reproduced on the back of this bulletin.

Ray was predeceased by his parents, Halvor and Mathilda Engemoen; brothers, Carrol and Don; brother-in-law Lloyd Halldorson; nephew Hal Johnson; and great-nephew Liam Engemoen.

He leaves to mourn his sisters, Phyllis Halldorson of Wadena, Shirley (Allan) Kvemshagen of Martensville, and Doris (Raymond) Johnson of Kelvington; as well as 32 nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great, great-nieces and -nephews.

He was loved by all and will be greatly missed.