Funeral services for 95-year old Ray Bucholz of Martin, SD, will be Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the New American Legion in Martin.
Burial will be at the Martin Cemetery.
Raymond Alvin Bucholz was born July 20, 1925, in Tyndall, SD, as the oldest son of Jake and Mamie (Hinzman) Bucholz. He passed away on December 8, 2020 at the Bennett County Hospital.
Ray grew up and worked on his parents’ farm through school. In 1946, he was drafted and served in the United States Army Air Corps. He was stationed at the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and received a WWII Victory Medal.
On March 24, 1954, Ray married Mary Lou Hagler in Tuthill, SD. They made their home in Martin and to this marriage they added 3 sons: Ron, Don and Stuart and 1 daughter Colette.
Ray worked for the Forestry Service, Standard Fuel Station, the Co-op, Mueller’s Feed Mill, the Bennett County Highway Dept, and the SD Dept of Transportation until his retirement.
Living through the Great Depression, World War II, and the manual-hard labor of Farming, Ray never took things for granted. A strong work ethic and his memory “taking you back in time” was something his family never tired of. Basically, his simple life was how he liked it.
His love for listening and playing music (polkas), traveling (Wyoming mountains), and visiting his kids and keeping track of his grandkids with a routine phone call comforted him.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Mary Lou, son Don, brother Earl and sister Norma Cummings. Surviving is his brother Robert (Marj) Martin, SD; Sons: Ronald (Carol) Charlo, MT; Stuart (Donell) Martin, SD; daughter: Colette Palmer (Tim) Martin, SD; Grandchildren: Wes-Jeff-Brenna-Jessica-Scott-Brad-Christian-Catelyn-Christina-Dustin-Trisha-Tonya-Timberly-Tina-Taylor, their spouses, 32 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild along with nieces and nephews.
Bennett County Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements for Ray Bucholz.