Rapid City - Raymond P. Kruse, 87, of Rapid City, died Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at the Rapid City Regional Hospice Auxiliary House. Raymond Peter Kruse was born March 20, 1926 to W.P. and Florence [DeBerg] Kruse in Little Rock, Iowa. His elementary education was in Little Rock, Iowa and White, South Dakota. He participated in football, basketball, class plays, quartet, mixed quartet, mixed chorus, and glee club. There were 24 students in his graduating class. In 1942, his junior year of high school, he was crowned Homecoming King. Following graduation, he enlisted with two friends in the United States Army and served in WWII from 1944-1946. He was in the 69th Infantry Division, European Theater, on a tank destroyer in France, Belgium, and Germany. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked with his father as a carpenter. Ray married Marian Schmidt on November 14, 1948. They lived in Hot Springs, Spearfish, and Sturgis from 1950-52 while Ray was employed by Lampert Lumber Company. In 1953 they moved from Sturgis to Rapid City where he worked for Robbins and Stearns Lumber Company for 35 years. After retiring in 1988, he worked as a caretaker on an estate in the Boston, MA area, returning to Rapid City in 1989. He also worked in Watertown, SD for Benchmark Foam, Jolly Lane Floral in Rapid City and the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn as a courtesy car driver. He and Marian also spent several winters in Arizona and Texas. Ray was a hard and loyal worker, but when he could get away for a while, he really enjoyed taking his family on the annual road trips. He also enjoyed carpentry and remodeling, as he was frequently looking to expand or improve on many of his homes in Rapid City. Ray was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church for a number of years, and he served in a variety of positions including elder, financial officer, and was a regular participant in Bible Study. Ray is survived by his wife: Marian Kruse of Rapid City; three children: Dan [Patricia] Kruse of Crown Point, Indiana; Carol [Bill] Coburn of Spearfish; and Robert [Tammi] Kruse of Rapid City; and nine grandchildren: Adam Kruse of Crown Point, IN; Nicholas Kruse of Griffith, IN; Lisa [Kruse] Engel of St.Louis, MO; Christi Coburn of Eden Prairie, MN; Brian Coburn of Omaha, NE; Kerri Kruse, Kyle Kruse, Alexis Kruse and Brandon Kruse, all from Rapid City. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter: Janet; a son: James; two sisters: Viola Willmott and Leona Quincey; and one brother: Gene Kruse. Visitation will be Thursday, June 27 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Boulevard. Funeral services will be Friday, June 28 at 11:00 am at Peace Lutheran Church, 219 East Saint Anne Street, with Rev. David Lindenberg officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, SD with Rev. Sam Bobby officiating, and full Military Honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post #1273 and South Dakota Army National Guard. Memorials may be directed to Peace Lutheran Church and American Cancer Society.