Raymond LeRoy Rader, age 97 of Ft. Morgan, Colorado went to be with Jesus on Sunday, March 27, 2022 in Sterling, Colorado.  He was born January 27, 1925 at home – Eustis, Nebraska – Frontier County to George P. Rader and Clara H. (Wickenkamp) Rader the fourth of eight children.  Ray was Baptized into the Christian faith on March 22, 1925 at Salem Lutheran Church in Frontier County and he confirmed that faith on March 29, 1942 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Arapahoe, Nebraska.

He attended school through the 8 ^th Grade and worked various jobs over the years but for most of his life as a rough neck or driller for Exeter and various other Oil Drilling companies.

His family is very proud of Ray's service to our country in the U.S. Army beginning with his induction July 31, 1944 then with the Fifth Infantry-Red Diamond Division under General George Patton at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II until his discharge June 27, 1946.

Ray was married on July 17, 1955 to Melba Wittrock at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sidney, Nebraska and they enjoyed 66½ years together.  They were blessed with 3 Children;  11 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren.

Ray & Melba bought a 5 room Motel & Trailer House Park and moved to Ft. Morgan, Colorado in January of 1957.  Shortly thereafter the width and length of trailers houses increased and so their Park no longer accommodated the bigger trailers.  Ray returned to working in the oil field.  For all of these 65 years in Ft. Morgan they have been members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Ray is survived by his wife, Melba; two daughters, Joline (Rev. Trenton D.) Christensen of Julesburg, Colorado; Marlinda (Randy) Dillenburg of Chappell, Nebraska and one son, Allan (Susan) Rader of Ft. Collins, Colorado, 11 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren, one sister, Irene Knappert of Arapahoe, Nebraska and one brother Billy (Connie) Rader of Sumner, Nebraska and one sister-in-law, Patsy Rader of Sumner, Nebraska, many cousins, nephews and nieces and extended family and friends and greater Church family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, one sister and four brothers.

Ray gave many hours of volunteer service to Trinity Lutheran Church & School, helping various individuals, the former Ft. Morgan Military Museum and the Colorado Plains Medical Center therapy group.

A memorial service celebrating God's Amazing Grace and Ray's entry into eternal life will be held on Saturday, June 18 ^th , 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 1100 West Plate Ave., Ft. Morgan.  Private Inurnment will take place prior to the service.

Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church and School or The Lutheran Hour.

The Lord Jesus said, "Believe and thou shalt be saved.  Acts 16:31

"These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and believing you may have life in His name."   John 20:31.

This is Ray's prayer for each and every one of you.