LTC Raymond H. Bleeker

LTC Raymond H. Bleeker, “Ray Bleeker,” passed away Feb. 23, 2016. After battling cancer he passed away on his own terms, in his own home, having spent the previous week surrounded by family and friends. He was born in 1940 to Garry and Gladys Bleeker.

He grew up on the family homestead near Rothiemay, Mont., south of the Snowy Mountains. The family later moved to the Spokane area and he graduated from Cheney High School in 1958. Ray married Marianne Lanphear in 1961. Christ was central to his life and he and his wife spent many hours over the years working in and for the church helping others.

Ray joined the Washington Air National Guard soon after high school. A few years later he became a full-time employee for his unit. As an Airman Basic, he started repairing jet engines on the F-89 with the 141 Fighter Group. Upon conversion to the KC-135, he headed the boom operator program. In 1980, he earned his commission as an officer in the USAF. In 1991, he deployed for Desert Storm. He retired from the Air National Guard in 1994 with 34 years of service in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel commanding the maintenance squadron for the 141 AREFW.

He was very active in the community around Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. An avid outdoorsman, he often returned to the homestead in Montana with family and friends to hunt and fish. An equally avid connoisseur of doughnuts and pie, he was a founding member of the ROMEO donut club in Coeur d’Alene. Ray leaves behind his wife Marianne, three sons, Douglas (Carolyn), Timothy and Scott (Angela), nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren; a brother and sister; a large extended family and a long list of co-workers and friends.

Service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Coeur d’Alene 1st Church of the Nazarene, 4000 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene.

The family requests that any donations be made to Spokane Shriner’s Hospital where Ray’s granddaughter received care.