Ray Melvin Madsen of Brush, Colorado went home to be with Jesus, on January 1, 2022.  He was currently residing at Ebenezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush.

Ray was born in Hampton, Nebraska to Hans Truelsen Madsen and Hannah Louise (Petersen) Madsen on November 18, 1923.  Ray's childhood and teen years were in Hampton where he grew up on the family farm and graduated from high school in 1941.  Following the sale of the farm, Ray moved to Brush, Colorado.

With the start of World War II, Ray volunteered for military service.  He entered active service on May 14, 1943, in Denver, Colorado.  His official address upon entry to the military was simply listed as Ebenezer, Brush, Colorado where his family ran the dairy at this location.  Ray served with distinction in various overseas campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.  He was a member of the 203 ^rd Engineers Combat Battalion.  Ray was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Bronze Service Arrowhead Cir 465 WD 44.  He took pride in his military service but as many of his generation, showed great humility and seldom spoke of his service.  When asked about his service, his typical response was, "We just did what needed to be done."

At 98 years of age, he was one of the last survivors of those Americans called, "The Greatest Generation", Americans who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II.  Ray was honorably discharged on December 3, 1945.  To the date of his death, he was a member of the American Legion, Sagebrush Post #68.  A personal highlight late in his life was his selection for an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the war memorials and receive recognition for his service to the county.

Ray married Ardenia Foos Lorensen of Brush, Colorado on February 12, 1956, and immediately inherited a large family, Ronald (aka. Scott), Sharon, and David, children of Ardenia whose previous husband, Wayne Lorensen, was deceased.  Ray and Wayne were good friends and Ray served as a pallbearer at Wayne's funeral. Ray formally adopted Ron, Sharon, and David and not long afterward a fourth child, Kirk, was born to Ray and Ardenia.

Ray and Ardenia built a home in Brush and lived there for the rest of their lives until physical health would no longer permit.  Both eventually became residents of Ebenezer Lutheran Care Center where they resided until the time of their death.

Ray and Ardenia loved to travel, many times with friends in their retirement years.  As a family it was not unusual for the family to take an annual road trip in a camper or trailer.  Ray enjoyed telling stories of these adventures, one being stuck in the mud and stranded on the side of a mountain road, another a trip to Mexico where intestinal illness came upon family members and a search for a doctor and medicine in Mexico became a highlight or perhaps lowlight of the trip.  Of course, these were the days before GPS and cell phones.  The kids remember setting around the kitchen table with a map spread out on the table and Ray marking out their route with a red pen.  Trips included visits to the Seattle World's Fair, California, Nevada, Mesa Verde, the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Tijuana.

After returning from the service, Ray worked for the Colorado Highway Department and then became a successful businessman, owning and operating Madsen's Conoco, possibly the last full-service gas station in Brush until he retired.  Upon his retirement a customer wrote in a card to Ray, "I wanted to thank you for your kind, considerate, and fair service to me through the past two years.  American business in general could learn a valuable lesson from your business conduct."

The term, service, defined Ray in his career, whether serving in the military, operating a service station, serving many years as a volunteer with the Brush Fire Department, or serving meals on wheels in the community of Brush. Ray was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brush. His faith in Jesus was an important part of his life, perhaps a strong influence for his life of service and evidenced by an old drawing he made for his mother, a cross, and titled, JESUS ONLY!"

Ray loved golf, a fixture at Bunker Hill Country Club for many years and fellowship at Crane's Café, a place for coffee and solving the world's problems with friends on a regular basis.  Ray's humor and appreciation for the status quo were evident in his later years, once telling his son-in-law, Brian, there were two words he never wanted to hear, "change" and "hurry."

At Ebenezer Ray made friends with the staff who provided wonderful care for him and somehow, he managed to get staff to bring him pie and other treats from their own kitchen.  He was also never far from his candy stash in the drawer next to his recliner.  He was very seldom miffed by things at Ebenezer except for a couple of occasions.  One was when his wife, Ardenia, visited his room and cleaned out his candy stash, returning to her room with the bounty and another when the tv service at Ebenezer no longer carried the Nuggets games.  When asked by staff what his goals might be or what he was looking forward to accomplishing at Ebenezer, he was heard to say, "At my age, I don't even buy green bananas."  His humor, humility and grace served him well and stayed with him until the end.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ivan, and his lovely bride Ardenia.   He is survived by sons Ronald (Berdean) of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, David of Brush, Colorado, Kirk (Krista) of Littleton, Colorado, and daughter Sharon Lessman (Brian) of Windsor, Colorado.  Additionally, he is survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Ray will be held at the Brush Memorial Columbarium sometime in the Spring/Summer when weather better permits travel for family and friends. Cards and condolences may be sent to Sharon Lessman, 370 10 ^th Street, Windsor, Colorado, 80550 who will share them with other family members.  Those who wish to make a memorial contribution may do so in Ray's name to the Brush Fire Department or Ebenezer Lutheran Care Center of Brush.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day-and not only me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)