Raymond Dvorak

** TO VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTE, CLICK WEB LINK ABOVE (COMPUTERS ONLY) ** Raymond R. Dvorak, age 81 of Sturgis, died Friday June 19, 2015 at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center in Sturgis. A memorial service will be held 10:30 am Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, with Deacon Ray Klein officiating. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Raymond Robert Dvorak was born July 18, 1933 on the family farmstead in Stark County, North Dakota. He was the son of Joseph and Rose (Kadrmas) Dvorak. Ray grew up on the family farm until he was 12 years old, when the family was forced to sell out due to the Great Depression. The family moved into Dickinson at that time. During the Korean War, Raymond served his country in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. Following his service he was united in marriage to Lidwina Mary Steier on June 18, 1958, in Reeder, ND. To this union four children were born: Norene, Greg, Ramona, and Layne. Following their marriage they lived in Sturgis, and Lead/Deadwood where Ray worked at the Homestake Mine for 9 years. Following a mine blast in which Ray was severely injured, in 1969 the couple moved to Belle Fourche. For 31 years, Ray was employed as a heavy equipment operator at Federal Bentonite (now American Colloid). Ray retired in 2000. His wife Lidy died in 2010 and for the past several years, declining health caused him to live at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center. Ray enjoyed gardening, hunting, old time country music and John Wayne movies. He was a great man, and loved by many. He will be missed greatly by his family and friends. Ray is survived by his sons, Greg of Belle Fourche, Layne of Gillette WY; daughters, Norene Dvorak of Gillette WY, Ramona Dvorak of Whitewood; and 4 granddaughters, Brittani, Nicole, Haley, and Kelsey. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Donald; and sister, Blanche.