Services for Raymond F. Thorpe
Raymond F. Thorpe, 89, passed away peacefully on January 30 at the Frank M. Tejeda Veterans Home in Floresville, TX. He was born March 20, 1927 in Starkweather, ND and grew up in Oklee.
After high school he joined the Army and served in Germany at the end of WWII. Upon discharge Ray enrolled in the University of MN, St. Paul, with the intention of being a veterinarian. He met a fellow student studying to be a game warden and decided that was what he wanted to pursue. Ray met Patt Lauritzen in 1948 and they were married January 20, 1951 in St. Paul. They moved to Ely, MN where Ray was a wildlife patrolman. He was assigned as a game warden in April 1953 and assigned to Kabetogama Lake in November. This was to be home for the next 29 years until his retirement in 1982.
Following retirement, Patt and Ray moved to International Falls and spent winters in Louisiana where Ray and Marvin Smith, retired International Falls warden, trapped beaver for the state. Patt and Ray also traveled to Europe, Hawaii, and Alaska as well as southern US states.
Ray was a wonderful artist using pen and ink to create wildlife pictures. He was primarily self-taught in taxidermy, upholstery, photography and film developing. He enjoyed gardening and dabbled in creating new types of roses and fruit trees. He tied his own fishing jigs and reloaded rifle shells. He served as president of the Kabetogama Community Club and taught firearm safety.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Fritz and Bess Thorpe, Infant brother Raymond (his dad liked the name and named Ray the same, a year later), brother Kenneth, grandson Eric, the son of daughter Melanie Rambo and Steve Weum.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years and ten days, Patt. Daughter Patrice of Floresville, TX; son Paul (Betty) of Paint Rock, TX; son Mark (Mary) of International Falls; daughter Melanie Rambo of San Antonio; son Russell of Oklee; and son Donald (Elvie) of San Antonio, TX. Also survived by 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Georgia Lauritzen of St. Paul, and 4 nephews.
Memorial celebration will be held in the summer of 2017 in Minnesota at Kabetogama Lake. Family suggests that friends of Ray can make donations in his name to the charity of their choice. Interment will be at a later date at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio TX.