Person:Raymond Saunders (1)

Raymond Russell Saunders 1917-2004

Ray's parents grew up on farms in the Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin area. They moved to Rockford, Winnebago Co., Illinois during World War I where Alban was a band director at Camp Grant, just south of Rockford. Ray was born in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois in 1917. The family moved to Beloit, Rock Co., Wisconsin in 1919 where his father worked for Fairbanks-Morse and was a soloist in the company band. The family moved to Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota in 1921 when Minneapolis Steel Machinery hired Alban so he could solo in their band. The family built a new house in South Minneapolis in 1922. Alban lost his job in the Great Depression and the family moved from house to house in North Minneapolis from 1930-33.

Ray took up the trombone as a junior in high school and played a solo at his high school graduation in 1935. He was a member of both the marching and concert bands at the University of Minnesota, eventually becoming first chair trombone. He graduated in the spring of 1939 but stayed on for a year of graduate work and was the University of Minnesota Band Manager 1939-1940. (50 members of the UofM Marching Band serenaded the wedding reception from the back yard at 3006 Irving Ave N. on 1 Aug 1939.) He was a member of the 151st Field Artillery (National Guard) band under his father's direction from 1935-1941. He trained at summer camps at Camp Ripley, Minnesota.

Ray's first paid choir director job was at Trinity Independent Church in Minneapolis from Aug 1939 to Jun 1940 ($25/month). He was Instrumental Music Teacher, Plainview, Minnesota, 1940-1944. Director of the Instrumental Music Program and High School Band Director, Mankato, Minnesota, 1944-1957. Magazine subscription sales through schools, 1957-1958. Blue Earth County Superintendent of Schools, 1959-1962. Hennepin County Assistant Superintendent of Schools, 1962-1963. High School Principal, Golden Valley Public Schools, 1963-1977. He retired in 1979 following a two-year sabbatical. Ray directed church choirs for many years in Mankato and Robbinsdale. All four of his children sang in his choirs.

Ray was primary care giver for his wife Margaret from 1986 to 1999 due to her strokes. They moved to Brightondale Assisted living apartments in 1996. He moved to North Ridge Apartments December 1999 after Margaret was admitted to the North Ridge Care Center and remained there after her death in January 2000. After an incident in April 2003 Ray, too was admitted to the North Ridge Care Center and we closed out his apartment. However, by December of that year he had improved enough to be back in an apartment, though with 24 hour care.

On Friday, January 30, 2004 he developed a bad cough and lung congestion and passed away at 6 p.m. Monday, February 2, attended by his home health aid.

He was a great dad.