Raymond C. Neyens, Sr., 94, of Winner, SD, passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center Long Term Care Facility. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial will be in the Colome Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, January 15, with a 6 p.m. prayer service all at the church.

Raymond was born at the family farm March 8, 1915, to Pete and Carrie (Dohmen) Neyens near Winnetoon, Nebr. He was the oldest of six children. On June 3, 1941 he was united in marriage to Grace Scheufler to whom he was married for 68 years. To this union, three children were born: Ray Jr., and twins Dennis and Diana.

In February of 1917 the family moved to a farm northeast of Colome. He attended rural school and graduated from the 8th grade. In February of 1930 the family moved to a farm southwest of Winner. Here he worked with his father on their farm and began his long life dream of farming. In March of 1941 he returned to the family farm northeast of Colome and continued to farm up to his retirement in 1980. He raised livestock through 1975 but due to health reasons was no longer able to continue that part of his farming operation. He lived on the family farm for over 63 years and his heart and soul was always in tilling the soil and raising livestock. He built most of the buildings that still remain on the farm.

Raymond was a life-long member of the Saint Isidore Catholic Church in Colome and later at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, former member of the Colome Township Board and an active member of the South Dakota Farmer’s Union for many years. He helped establish the Ray and Grace Neyens Family Scholarship for the Local Tripp County High Schools.

He loved traveling and toured all 50 states in the USA and Canada. He was a collector of toy tractors, loved to play cards, and taught his grandsons how to play checkers. He cherished his grandsons and loved to spend time with them.

He is survived by his loving wife Grace, three children, Raymond Jr. (Rita), Winner, SD, Dennis (Diane) Long Valley, SD and Diana (Doyle) Stiefel, Renner, SD his brothers, Lawrence and Jim of Winner, SD and sister, Alice (Darrell) Stewart of Sun City, AZ, five grandchildren, Russ (Stephanie), Brookings, SD, Ron (Nicole) Mt Pleasant, SC, Mike Neyens, Sioux Falls, Chris Stiefel (Breann) Harrisburg, SD and Randy Stiefel, Rapid City, SD and three great-grandchildren.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, Pete & Carrie Neyens and brothers Joe and Harold.

Raymond was a very special person that will be deeply missed.