Ray A. Zimdars, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 with his family by his side at the Glendive Medical Center, Glendive. Visitation was held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home, Glendive. A life tribute service was held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Celebrant Sandy Silha officiating. Interment with military honors was held in Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home, Glendive, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Ray was born on Aug. 29, 1935 in Glendive, a son of Henry and Mary (Bush) Zimdars. He was raised and educated on the family farm west of Bloomfield.
Following his education Ray worked a variety of jobs for many people. For two years, he labored as a welder of Shell Oil in addition to working on TV towers for L.W. Jones. Ray also worked as a piler for Holly Sugars out of Sidney, MT and he later drove the beet truck for Elwin and Warren Prevost. Additionally, he had a partnership in a hay hauling and grinding business. Even with all those other jobs, Ray continued to operate the family ranch during those years.
In 1954, Ray enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and was stationed in Yakima, WA, for two years before returning home. Ray was honorably discharged from the United Stated Army in 1963. Shortly after his return home, Ray married Margaret Meyers on Sept. 15, 1957 in Glendive and to this union, four children were born. With his growing family, he ran the Big Z Ranch, Inc., west of Bloomfield, for over 50 years. He remained active at the ranch until the time of his death.
Ray had many hobbies, some of which included hunting geese and elk, but he enjoyed the hunting trips and bad habits the most. He also had a habit of buying, selling and trading. He liked attending the bump-n-run races and rodeo Calcuttas; he was a true cowboy at heart. His favorite time of the year was always haying season as he loved raking hay. However his favorite part of every day was watching the sunrise in the morning.
Ray was considered to be a big instigator at times, especially at someone else’s expense. On the other hand, he cherished the moments spent on his special Father-Daughter dates. Ray was very proud of his family and he enjoyed each and every one of his grandchildren all in their own way.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret; daughter Gailenne Meyers; grandson, Theodore; brothers Jup, Lyle, Ivan; sister Phoebe; and his mother and father in law, Rhoda and Sandy Meyers.
He is survived by his daughters, Wilhelmina “Jo” Bain, Richey; and Mary Sue (David) Volk, Fargo, ND; son Ty (Mary Beth) Zimdars, Bloomfield, MT; 12 grandchildren: Brandi, Joseph, Travis (Lynn) Bain, Taylon Bain, Tyrel Bain, Hannalee Volk, Haylee Volk, Abraham Volk, Emmalee Volk, Maria Zimdars, Talia Zimdars, Angelia Zimdars; six great grandchildren: Codie Meyers, Jaiden and Ami Joseph, and Trace, Kord and Roper Bain; brother, Dick (Yvette) Zimdars of Beach, ND; sister, Dorothy Meidinger, Glendive; sister-in-law, Helen Zimdars of Helena, MT; brother-in-laws, Donald Meyers of Laurel, MT; Terry (Norma Sherman) Meyers of Glendive, MT; sister-in-laws , Dorothy (Duke) Albrecht, Fort Morgan, CO; Debbie (Tom) Meissner, Lewistown, MT; and Marcia (Garey) Ketcham, Fort Worth, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: http://www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.
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