Raymond William Abbey, 94, Winner, SD passed away Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Gregory Hospital, Gregory, SD. Raymond William Abbey was born July 26, 1919 at Hawarden, Iowa to Harold B. and Myrtle (Anderson) Abbey. At 6 months of age his parents brought him to Tripp County, where he spent the rest of his life. He attended school at South Curlew #8 and Witten High School. On December 13, 1941 Raymond married Rhoda I. Storrud at Valentine, Nebraska. To this union 7 children were born. In December of 2013 they celebrated their 72nd anniversary. In May 1942, Ray left for his basic training going first to Camp Shelby, Mississippi; from there he went to Springfield, Missouri for medical training. After basic they went to Louisiana and the desert in California on maneuvers. He was a medic with the 85th Division Artillary Headquarters and left from Newport News, New Jersey on Christmas day in 1943. Landing in North Africa, after North Africa his unit landed in Naples, Italy. He served in three major campaigns - Rome-Arno, Po Valley and the Appenines Mountains from 1944 to 1945. He had orders to go to Japan when the war ended. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy Wisconsin on September 27, 1945 as a Tech5. Ray farmed and ranched in Curlew Township, Northwest of Witten, where he served on the township board, rural school board and the Weed Board. He was a brand inspector for 36 years. Ray was a charter member of the Merlin Williams Post 0167 of Witten and a member of the VFW Post 4674. He managed the elevator at Witten. Ray is survived by his wife Rhoda and children: Rae (Joe) Tyburec, of Gregory, SD, Dianna (Neil) Frank, Jr. of Winner, Donna Tyburec, of Winner, Michael (Rene) Abbey, of Hudson, Wyoming, Linda (Allan) Devish, of Redding, California, Susan (Nick) Frank, of Valentine, Nebraska and Barbara (Ron) Hespe, of Winner; twenty-one grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren and three great-great grandsons; sister-in-laws Lois Ballard and Verna (Joel) Knutson. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Myrtle Abbey, brothers Wayne and Paul (Betty) Abbey, sister Helen (Robert) Jorgensen, granddaughter Annette Devish, two great-granddaughters, Lynae Hespe and Shauna Pravecek and son-in-law Frank Tyburec.