Raymond A. Mayer Sr., 70

Raymond A. Mayer Sr., 70, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, formerly of Van Hook, N.D., died Thursday, July 24, 2014, in a Seattle, Wash., hospital.

Raymond was born Nov. 15, 1943, to Richard and Frances on the family farm near Van Hook, N.D. He was raised in the Van Hook and Sanish areas, and attended schools in Sanish and New Town, N.D. Ray entered the U.S. Army in 1960 and served in Germany.

After Ray was honorably discharged in 1963, he moved to Tioga, N.D. and started working in the oil industry moving rigs. In the late 1960s, Ray started commuting to Alaska to work in the oil fields, moving to Alaska in the mid-1980s. He worked in the oil fields until retiring in 2009 as a Field Superintendent from Peak (formerly Kodiak) Oilfield Services.

In 1985, Ray was united in marriage to Loene Adamson in Lake Tahoe. They lived in Eagle River, Alaska, and then moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1999. Ray commuted to Alaska for work.

Ray was a talented craftsman and enjoyed working with leather and wood. He hand-crafted knives and made beautiful cabinetry. Ray enjoyed the outdoors and all it had to offer - including hunting and fishing. He and Loene enjoyed traveling, often taking trips in their RV with no specific destination planned, making frequent stops at local casinos. They enjoyed time in Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Ray's favorite, Mesa Verde, N.M.

Ray was raised around the Native American community and cultivated many life-long Native American friends. He appreciated the customs and culture of the Hidatsa Tribe.

Ray cherished time spent with his family. May God bless the memory of Raymond Mayer.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Richard; his mother, Frances Arnes; and brother, Alvin Roger Mayer. He is survived by his wife, Loene; his sons, Shayne Mayer (Brittany Mae Jamison) of Cantwell, Alaska, Richard Mayer (Valerie) of New Town, N.D., and Raymond 'Boom' Jr. (Melissa) of Seattle, Wash., daughter, Desiree Elston (Randy) of Joshua, TX; stepsons, Scott Sloan (Melinda) of Amboy, Wash., and Steven Sloan of Grants Pass, Ore., brother Rex Mayer of Rapid City, S.D., sister Thelma Bauer of Gillette, Wyo., aunt Elsie Mayer of New Town, N.D., grandchildren, Samantha, Shayne Jr., Shawn and Hunter; Devin, Chaselynn, Dante, Steven and Alliana; Christopher, Jesse, Austin, Madison, Tiffany and Jeremy; Rose, Kaedon and Triston (due in December); Shannon, Jerad, and Jason; great-grandchildren Seth, Sunny Rae, Summer Rayne, and Robert with two great-grandchildren due in December and January; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and his pal, "Buddy."

A memorial was held on Friday, Aug. 1, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Town, N.D. Arrangements by Langhans Funeral Home (langhansfuneralhome.com).

Ray was grateful for the care he received at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. In place of flowers, the family asks for donations in Ray's memory to SCCA (www.seattlecca.org), or the donor's choice of charity.