Raymond Bernard "Ray" Weisser

Raymond 'Ray' Bernard Weisser August 10, 1921 – March 5, 2011 Raymond 'Ray' Bernard Weisser of Hot Springs passed away March 5, 2011, at the Custer Regional Senior Care. He was 89 years old. Ray was born August 10, 1921, in Tyndall, to Bernard W. and Grace (Wynia) Weisser. In 1926, the family moved to Hot Springs. After high school graduation, he went to work for the State Highway Commission, surveying for the highway from Edgemont to Igloo. Ray volunteered for Pilot Training in the Air Force. He passed the exams and began flight training but was washed out due to a cracked bone in his foot from a skiing accident. In September 1942, Ray was drafted into the Army. After basic training he was sent to radio repair and following graduation was sent to radar training. He discovered, however, that diesel electronics school was more to his liking and upon completion, Ray received his Sergeant's stripes. He transferred and took additional training to install teletype stations. Ray's group built Teletype stations in South America and then in Africa. He was promoted to a troubleshooting role, supervising new teams. One of the highlights of his Army career was to be selected as the Head Electrician for the Yalta Peace Conference in Russia. As Yalta Harbor was full of sunken ships, U.S. ships were forced to dock at the Harbor of Sevastopol. As the Russians would not allow transmitters on Russian soil, Ray's team had to string landlines from the fleet, about 95 miles over the mountains into Yalta. This was a vital war effort as all messages in and out of this world-changing peace conference went over these lines and all electricity for the peace conference came from the generators installed and power lines strung to the castle where the military officers and the leaders of "The Big Three" were deciding the end of WWII in Europe. As he was in the President's room many times insuring the flow of electricity to the his equipment, Ray became well acquainted with President Franklin Roosevelt while he was there. After the peace conference ended, Ray went on R&R before returning to the states. He was on temporary duty leave when the war ended in Europe. He was sent to wire-splicing school, but had too many points to be sent back over seas and ended his military career as an instructor for three months, after Japan surrendered. After returning to Hot Springs, he met and married Hazel Trosper on Feb. 2, 1947. Hazel became his lifelong love and was his support and partner of 64 years "until death do us part." Ray and Hazel raised two children of their own and always opened their home and hearts to their children's friends, grandchildren and community youth. Ray was a lifelong Boy Scout joining the Cub Scouts when he was 8-years-old and has been a member continuously since. He was Scout Master for both Troop 22 and Troop 23 and was the Charter Organizational Representative between Troup 23 and the United Churches. He served as District Commissioner, District Advancement Chairman and was presented numerous awards, including the coveted Silver Beaver Award. He eventually earned nearly award given by the Boy Scouts and the Black Hills Council. Ray loved taking his tepee, his muzzleloader rifles and other equipment, with his grandson or daughter and son-in-law off to a rendezvous a few times a year. As with all his activities, this was always a family affair with Hazel responsible for Ray's beaded and authentic costumes. Ray was active in his community and was proud to be a Commander of the American Legion and an Exalted Ruler of the Elks. He was an active member of the United Churches of Hot Springs for more than 60 years. After moving to Custer to be near Hazel, he joined the Custer Lutheran Fellowship Church. Ray was a career civil servant, going to work at the Hot Springs Veteran's Administration as a projectionist. After that job ended he joined the painting crew, eventually becoming the supervisor and after 30 years he retired. Not one to sit, he had several sidelines including window and screen repair, saw sharpening, painting and wall papering, raising and training Labrador hunting dogs, and collecting Model A Fords. Ray is survived by his wife Hazel, of Custer, a daughter Connie Newberg of Canyon Lake, Texas and his son Harvey Weisser of Prescott, Ariz. He also leaves a granddaughter, Karen Weisser and great-grandson Kaleb, both of Prescott, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Hazel Clason, son-in-law Ralph LeRoy Newberg, grandson Ralph Raymond Newberg and two infant grandsons. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2011, at the United Churches in Hot Springs with Rev. Morris Nelson officiating. A memorial has been established in Ray's name to benefit the Pine Tree District Boy Scouts Black Hills Area Council. Contributions can be mailed to Boy Scouts-Black Hills Area Council, 144 North Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Custer. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com