Raymond "Ray" Orloske was born July 5, 1928 in Amboy Township. He was the youngest of nine children born to Gustave and Helen (Wefel) Orloske. At the age of 8 Ray moved with his family to a farm east of Jeffers in Delton Township. This became his home for 70 years until he and his wife moved to Windom in 2005. Ray was baptized and confirmed at an early age. He attended country school and later attended school in Jeffers, graduating from Jeffers High School in 1946. He married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Pankonin, on September 15, 1949 at Red Rock Evangelical Church in Germantown Township. They became the parents of four daughters. Ray farmed for 25 years. In the early years of farming he also was employed by the Delft Lumber Yard. He maintained the roads and plowed snow in Delton and Carson Townships for 11 years. After farming he owned and operated Ray's Backhoe service, doing farm drainage and other land excavation work for landowners for 30 years. Ray had served on several boards including the former Delft Elevator and Delton Township. He was the Delton Township Treasurer for 21 years. Ray and his family faithfully attended the Carson M.B. Church in Delft until it closed in 2005. He served as usher, was on the food committee and sang in the choir. After moving to Windom, he and his wife attended the Evangelical Free Church in Windom. Ray greatly enjoyed visiting with family and friends whenever he would meet them. He and his wife annually hosted the Orloske family picnic at their farm home for many years. He enjoyed collecting IH toy tractors and displaying them. He built a model railroad to share with those who came to visit it. He liked photography, mowing lawns, fishing and camping with his wife and family, especially at Lake Shetek State Park where they made many new friends. Together they enjoyed visits to see their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ray died on Saturday, July 4, 2009, the day before his 81st birthday. Ray is survived by Arlene, his wife of almost 60 years; daughters, Dawn (Orv) Regehr of Johnstown, CO, Diane (Jim) Dick of Mountain Lake, Susan (Paul) LeBoutillier of Ontario, OR, Sandi (Jim) Gustafson of Prior Lake, MN; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-children; sister, Ruth (Ralph) Robinson of Windom, and a host of other relatives and friends. Ray is preceded in death by his parents,; sisters, Helen Wintemute, Ruby Schwanke, Olga Burns, Emma Rupp, Elsie Radtke and Marie Lenhoff; and brother, Gus Orloske, Jr.