On January 2, 2024, (Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa) Raymond Kordonowy was called to the pearly gates to join his wife, Marlene, and all the rest of his heavenly family. What a glorious celebration it must have been!

Raymond was the first born of the blended family of Dmytro and Anna Kordonowy. He was born March 14, 1933, outside of Belfield, North Dakota on the family farm, joining six siblings from the previous marriages of Dmytro and Anna: Eva, Dora, Walter, Bill, Sam, and Tony. Later, younger siblings Mary and Walter Paul would join the family. Ray completed schooling first at the local rural school, and later graduated 8th grade at the Belfield school.

As is customary in those times, Ray was to join the working class after 8th grade graduation. He helped with the farming, worked at his dad’s bowling alley, worked construction building grain bins, and learned to cut meat at the Belfield meat market.

In 1955, he met Marlene Gross while working at a grocery store in Glendive, Montana. He married Marlene in January of 1956 and he and his new bride moved back to Belfield for a short time to care for Ray’s ailing parents. Near the end of 1956, Ray and Marlene moved to Sidney where they built their forever home.

In their 63 years together, they were blessed with five children: Terry, Donita, LouAnna, Trena, and Ray Jr. Their children in turn blessed them with ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

Ray worked as a builder, a meat cutter, a maker of fiberglass products, and finally retired from his work career from the City of Sidney in 1996 after 20+ years of service. Ray loved woodworking in his shop building toys, and for exercise he walked the highway right of way picking up cans.

There should be quite the greeting at heaven’s gates for Ray joining Marlene, his parents, and all his siblings.

Ray leaves here his children Terry (Chuck), Donita, LouAnna (Mike), Trena, and Ray Jr. (Jodi); and numerous grandchildren that he cared for in his gruff old way.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. Kessler; nurses Heather, Tracy, and Meaghan; and all the other staff at Sidney Health Center who provided the great care given to Ray throughout the years.