Raymond Bruce Hershey

Raymond Bruce Hershey was born August 14, 1919, to John and Daisy Mitchel Hershey in Hurley, SD. He was raised in Mitchell, SD, and graduated from Mitchell High School. Ray attended the Dunwoody Institute for two years in sheet metal work. He worked for Herman Hertzer and Allied Roofing. On January 3, 1940, Ray was united in marriage to Dorothy Seeger at the First Lutheran Parsonage in Albert Lea. He served in the United States Navy during WWII. In 1952, Ray started Hershey Roofing, working on many of the local churches and businesses. He was involved with and a member of many organizations including the Elks, Eagles, Noon Kiwanis, American Legion, VFW, Moose, South Side Business Assoc., Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning, & Roofing Contractors Assoc. - SMARCA serving as President, Union Club, & the First Lutheran Church, where he had been on the worship offering committee for over 30 years. Ray was the longest active member of the Albert Lea Kiwanis Club and was currently a Senior Member. He joined Kiwanis in 1953 and had attained 52 years of perfect attendance. In 1992, he was honored as a Distinguished Kiwanis Member and later became a George F. Hixon Fellow. For many years, Ray was the Interclub Chairman and brought distinction to his club by regularly visiting other Kiwanis clubs in the Region. He took great pride in this accomplishment and his membership in Kiwanis. Ray liked to bowl and was a great card player and pool player. He especially enjoyed the family cabin at Beaver Lake. Ray was always a good provider for his entire family. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Albert Lea; son, Robert "Bob" Hershey of Albert Lea; grandsons: Eric, David, and Brian Hershey; great-grandchildren: Cody, Tyler, Nathan, and Cheyenne; sisters, Hazel Wheeldon of Sioux Falls, SD, and Irma Slocum of Vancouver, WA; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Vail Hershey; and sister, Florence Fristad. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.