Archived Services

Raymond Wheeler
02-27-2012

Raymond Wheeler, age 68, passed away at his home on February 27, 2012. Raymond Francis Wheeler was born on November 8, 1943 in Montrose, SD to Leonard and Evelyn (Christensen) Wheeler. Ray grew up in Montrose and graduated from Montrose High School in 1961. He moved to Sioux Falls and joined the Sioux Falls Fire Department as a firefighter in 1966. On April 27, 1968, He married Cheryl Denise Roy at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Montrose, SD. After 29 years of service, he retired as a Captain from the Sioux Falls Fire Department in 1995. He then went to work as a greens keeper for the Minnehaha Country Club Golf Course. He retired from that position in 2010 after 15 years of service. Ray was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Cathedral Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. During his life, he enjoyed participating in many different sports. In his early years, he played football, baseball, basketball and track. He later coached baseball and softball and belonged to softball, bowling and golf leagues. Ray enjoyed watching sports as much as he enjoyed playing them. He had a special passion for the University of Notre Dame athletics. Especially the football team. He traveled to South Bend, Indiana to see them play many times. He enjoyed spending his time with his family and friends. Most of whom knew him by his nickname of "Wheels". He was an avid golfer and he looked forward to playing often each summer. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Cheryl Wheeler, his sons Brett and Bryan Wheeler, his daughter-in-law Jinxiu Huang, his grandson Brady Wheeler and his three sisters Mary Roling, Cheryl Wheeler and Peggy Stanton. He was preceded in death by his father Leonard "Red" Wheeler and his mother Evelyn "Boots" Wheeler. Visitation will be Thursday, 5 - 8 PM with family present at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home. Memorial Mass will be Friday, 10 AM at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.