Ray Orule Soester

Ray Orule Soester

A memorial service for Ray Soester, age 79 of Lusk, was held at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 11 at the United Methodist Church in Crawford, Neb. Ray passed away on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Niobrara Health and Life Center in Lusk.

Ray Orule Soester, known as Ray to his family and friends, was born on Sept. 28, 1926 on a farm in the Squaw Mound community south of Crawford, Neb. The son of Henry and Minnie Wright Soester, who farmed in the area. After graduating from Crawford High School in 1944, he farmed with his parents until he married Verna Lee Diehl on Jan. 3, 1952. Ray and Verna farmed and ranched in the Crawford area until moving to Bridgeport in 1966. In 1967 they and their three sons moved to Newcastle, where Petrolane employed Ray.

Ray and Verna liked the travel that was involved in his employment. Living in Newcastle; Yellowstone National Park; Sandpoint, Idaho; Kanab, Utah; Wright and Lusk. Not liking to be idle, he kept busy doing part-time work in propane in Lusk and Chadron where they spent four years helping Verna's parents. Going back to Lusk, Ray started a pilot car business and keeping everyone within earshot amused with his stories.

He was preceded in death by one brother Kenneth and his parents.

Ray is survived by his wife Verna of 54 years; three sons, David of Casper, John of Denver, Larry of Laughlin, Nev., brother Howard of Fort Worth, TX, sister Dora Hale of Crawford, Neb.; 4 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A memorial has been established to the Lusk/Niobrara Ambulance service.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home in Lusk is in charge of the cremation arrangements.

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