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Raymond ‘Ray’ Lee Dyck, 97

Ray rode off into the sunset on March 16, 2017, in Post Falls, Idaho. Ray was born on Oct. 30, 1919, he was the oldest child of Frank and Lena (Schrag) Dyck, German, Russian Mennonite farmers in Ruff, Wash. He grew up working on the family’s wheat ranch. His love for rodeo began at a young age, and he never passed up a chance to practice riding the family’s cattle.

After graduating from Lind High School, he began breaking horses and mules. He became a cattle buyer and met his wife, Jacquie Vertrees, who was a telephone operator in Moses Lake, when he made sales calls.

Ray was one of the founders of the Moses Lake Rodeo, which continues today.

Ray and Jacquie, along with their infant daughter, moved to Davenport, Wash., and raised cattle.

In 1950, Ray packed up the family, purchased a dairy and moved to Post Falls. Although his love for rodeo continued, he put aside his calf roping (tie down roping) in order to raise his family. Always involved with horses, he became a member of the Kootenai County Saddle Club.

Ray and Jacquie divorced in 1965. He began raising exotic cross cattle and sold his Brahma bulls to rodeo contractors.

Marilyn Fitzsimmons and Ray were wed, but later divorced.

Ray, always a hard worker, sold his dairy but needed more to do in retirement, so he went to work at Helmers Hardware. He also enjoyed team roping in his later years. In his 90s, Ray moved to Guardian Angel Retirement Community in Post Falls.

Ray is survived by one brother, Alvin Dyck (Marge) of Moses Lake, Wash.; three daughters, Gail Schoonmaker (Gordon) of Post Falls, Barbara Jill Fifer (Larry) of Rice, Wash., and Jeanne Ruebke of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; grandson Jeff Dawson of Spokane, Wash.; granddaughters Dawn Ray Fifer and Tonya Fifer of Spokane Valley, Wash., and Brianna Ruebke and Kelly Ruebke of Coeur d’Alene; and great-grandson Tyler Fifer-Alexander of Spokane Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, a sister and his son, Frank Dyck, and his son-in-law, John Ruebke.

The family wants to extent a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful caregivers, nurses and staff at the Timber House Guardian Angel Post Falls for the superb and loving care they gave Ray. Also, we extend a grateful thank you to Hospice of North Idaho.

Most of all the family wants to thank Ray for making us the luckiest people in the world.

There will be a visitation for Ray from 4-6 p.m. Monday, March 20, 2017, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Evergreen Cemetery, 2834 N. Spokane St., Post Falls.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Ray’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.