In his usual “Get er done” fashion, Raymond Roy Richter, 85 of Trego, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2022 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI after a lingering one day illness. His wife, family, and chaplain were at his side.

Ray was born in Cumberland, WI to Joseph and Malinda (Vogt) Richter on October 10, 1936. He was the oldest of eight children.

Ray was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Pipe Lake, WI. He spent his early years in Comstock and Turtle Lake. He often worked on his grandparents’ farm. It was their hope that he would stay on the farm, but he began driving truck and hauling horses for “Shorty” Barr and found that he loved a life of travel and adventure. He worked out west and occasionally chauffeured the Polk County sheriff.

In February 1958, Ray enlisted in the Navy and served on the Destroyer USS Perry. He was Honorably Discharged in January 1962. While in the Navy, Ray married Vereen Nelson. They had four children together and later divorced.

After he left the Navy, Ray became an over-the-road truck driver, living in Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida, and Georgia and driving over 8 million miles in his career. In 1994, Ray married Marilyn Petersen Dunn and she traveled with him across the United States for many years. They also travelled to Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, Alaska and Hawaii. Ray also spent time in Australia and Belize. The Johnny Cash song, “I’ve Been Everywhere Man,” was most certainly true of them.

Ray remembered every road he drove and river he crossed like he was Google Maps. If you travelled with him, he taught you about everything you passed, what crops grew in which fields, what pond the alligators were in, what industries were operating, and what famous person came from there.

When he lived in Florida, Ray often loaded his own children, and any others who wanted to come along, into an old Zephyr bus for a day at the beach or some other great adventure. Ray and his family also spent many weekends at the NASCAR races, camping in the infield in their RV. Ray was a champion rib griller and breakfast chef.

Ray and Marilyn retired to Trego, WI where he reconnected with old friends and relatives and joined the VFW. He kept busy visiting people, driving people many miles to medical appointments, feeding the birds, gardening, grilling, fishing, four wheeling, watching the news, reading obituaries, and frequently enjoying a beer on his deck.

Ray was bigger than life, wise, and loving. He was 100% genuine, faults and all. Ray often made us laugh, sometimes made us cry, and always, always made us feel safe and loved. He will be deeply missed.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife Marilyn, son Marty, daughters Tammy (Wayne) Day and Terry (Terry) Cooper, brother Gerald, sisters Virginia Feiertag, Barbara (Gary) Swant, Nancy Robarge (Scott Storms), sister-in-law Nancy Richter, stepchildren Cheryl (Jay) Smith, Debbie (Rodney) Campbell, and Dean Dunn, grandchildren, Jennifer (Eric) Holt, Michael Day, Heather, Kimberly, and LeeAnn Sasser, Stephanie (Carver) Westendoff, Dillion Richter, Nikki Rae and Will Lane, step grandchildren Chrissy Schoen, Mic Campbell, Sean, Janae and Cassie Dunn, Maycee Brown and Hunter Smith, 19 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Constance Sasser, sisters Elizabeth Feiertag and Vicky Dalrymple, brother Thomas, Stepson Dennis Dunn, step-grandsons, Scott Dunn and Dennis John Dunn, brothers-in-law Paul and Donald Feiertag, and sister-in-law Diane Richter.

Arrangements by Skinner Funeral Home. Services will be March 11 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior to service at Christ Lutheran Church in Pipe Lake, Wi with Reverend Steven Miller officiating. Burial will be at Northern WI Veteran’s Cemetery at Spooner, WI.

Last Update: Feb 28, 2022 2:27 pm CST