Raymond  Keith Sheperd, 70, of Rapid City, died Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Ft Meade VA Hospice Care.  He was born on October 3rd, 1953 to Howard Jack and Marjorie (Streeter) Sheperd in Buffalo WY.

He worked with his dad and brothers all through high school at their dirt works company. He graduated Kaycee High School and eventually joined the army and was honorably discharged in 1972. His main station was in Korea on a Hawk Missile Site.

He married while in his last year of service and then moved his family back to Kaycee, Wyoming. He had many occupations, for example, the Texaco oil company, servicing the oil pumps around Kaycee and Moorcroft. After his divorce he moved to Virginia for a few years and did safe building and went to welding school to become a licensed welder.

In 1994, Ray moved back to Rapid City and met Pam Lethlean. The Veterans Administration sent him to school to learn mechanical drafting. He and Pam married in 2000 and in 2001 transferred to Abilene, TX for Pam's work at Dyess Air Force Base, while there Ray worked drafting boilers and drove tractor for a cotton collection plant.

In 2004 they moved to Grand Prairie, Texas so Pam could work at the AAFES headquarters in Dallas. Ray did drafting at a few places, landing at Trinity Industries in Fort Worth until he retired in October of 2015.

As both were now retired, they moved back to Rapid City to be near his kids and grandkids, of which he had a few …. 5 kids, 11 grandkids and eight great grandkids.

Ray and Pam love to travel, many road trips were taken throughout the United States, and two trips to the Dominican Republic. He has friends everywhere. Ray loved the Lord, his family and his friends. Besides travel, he loved working in his yard and around the house. Many things and people were left better off than when he found them.

Ray is survived by his wife Pam, Rapid City, his sons: Timothy (Tiffany) Sheperd (Summerset), Jack (Carina) Sheperd (Black Hawk), his three daughters: Michele (D'Art) Witherspoon (Newell), Jamie (Todd) Erskin (Hot Springs), and Amber (Stanton) Anker (Rapid City), 11 grandkids and eight great grandkids. He is also survived by his brother Dennis (Judy) Sheperd of Ten Sleep, WY.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Don.

A memorial has been established to Rushmore VFW Post 1273.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will take place on Tuesday, October 24th 2023 at the Rimrock Church, Johnson Siding at 10 AM. Inurnment of his ashes will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery at 2:00pm.