SKILLMAN, Raymond Charles 1924-1998

SKILLMAN, RUNNING, STUBBE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/16/2008 at 08:56:23

Raymond Charles Skillman was born July 24, 1924 at Valley Springs, South Dakota, the son of Merritt and Inga (Running) Skillman. He attended school at Valley Springs. After his education he worked for the railroad as a brakeman and a section had, repairing the tracks. On February 15, 1947, Raymond was united in marriage to Leona Stubbe in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

After their marriage Raymond and Leona moved to Sioux Falls where he worked for Beatrice Foods. In December of 1948, they moved to George and he worked for Swalve Produce for twenty-three years. As work became slow, he moved to Garritson, South Dakota to work for the hatchery there. In May of 1976 he started working as a custodian for the Brandon Valley School system. In 1978 he switched schools and started working for the Harrisburg School until October of 1981 when he retired due to health problems. During their retired years together Raymond and Leona lived in Worthing, South Dakota, Ellsworth, Minnesota and Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Raymond loved to give people a hard time and especially enjoyed raising rabbits and taking them to rabbit shows. In November of 1997 Raymond’s health was declining and he moved to the Ah Gwah Ching Center in Ah Gwah Ching, Minnesota for special care. Raymond died this past Tuesday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids, Minnesota at the age of seventy-three.

Raymond is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Leona Skillman of Rock Rapids, Iowa; three daughters, Judy (Gary) Meester of Ellsworth, Minnesota, Earleen “Lynn” (Ron) Hinrichs of Ellsworth, Minnesota and Laureen (Norbert Sr.) Fick of Luverne, Minnesota; eight grandchildren, Dawn Van Den Top of George, Iowa, Larry Meester of Ellsworth, Minnesota, Judy Hinrichs of Ellsworth, Minnesota, Shawn Fick of Vermillion, South Dakota, Daniel Fick of Luverne, Minnesota, Norbert Fick, Jr. of Vermillion, South Dakota, Chris Hinrichs of Ellsworth, Minnesota and Nick Meester of Ellsworth, Minnesota along with seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Norman Skillman of Valley Springs, South Dakota; James and SM Skillman of Galesburg, Illinois and one sister, Elizabeth Gilbertson; a special friend, Gert. R. Broesder and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Merritt and Inga; four brothers, Al, Rolland, Lyle, and Clifford Skillman; and one sister, Dorthea Burns.

Funeral services for Raymond Skillman were held on Sunday, May 31, 1998 at the Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa with interment in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, west of George, Iowa.

(Roste Funeral Home obituary)