Funeral services for Raymond A. Lutz, 87, of Mobridge, SD, will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church of Mobridge. Burial will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Black Hills National Cemetery of Sturgis, SD, under the direction of the Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Raymond passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Ray was born to August and Matilda (Siegle) Lutz on June 11, 1927, in Isabel, SD. He was the youngest child in a family of 13 children.

Ray was raised in rural Isabel and attended country school through the 3rd grade. The family moved into Isabel, where Ray attended school from 4th to 12th grade, graduating from Isabel High School with the class of 1945.

In April of 1946 Ray was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corp and was inducted into service at Ft. Snelling, MN. He received his basic training at San Antonio, TX, and from there he was sent to Clark Field in the Philippine Islands. He received his discharge from service on October 25, 1947.

Ray returned to South Dakota after his military service and worked for his brother-in-law on their farm near Glenham, SD. Ray was later appointed Poster Master in Glenham from 1954 to 1988 with a total of 36 years of service.

Ray met Shirley Ann Culp, the love of his life, through mutual friends and they were married on July 11, 1954, at Trinity Lutheran Church of Mobridge. Three children were born to this union, Linda, Craig and Bruce.

After Ray's retirement from the Postal Service in 1988, Ray and Shirley spent a couple of years "wintering" in McCallen, TX. They later decided that there was no place like home for them and due to some health issues, it was decided to take shorter vacations closer to home.

Ray was a special husband, father, and grandfather to 15 grandchildren. He enjoyed going to all the events in which his grandchildren were involved, especially sports and music.

Ray was very active, in his younger years, with events concerning school, community and church activities. He served on the Trinity Lutheran Church board for several years.

Ray took great pride in his beautiful yard with his talent to make everything grow and his yard and flower arrangements were of special pride to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Matilda Lutz; his siblings, Margaret Reuer, Henry Lutz, August Lutz, Fred Lutz, Jake Lutz, Bill Lutz, Matilda Walth, Pauline Finkbeiner, Reinhardt Lutz, and Lydia Lutz; and his grandchildren, Lindsy and La Rae Gosch.