Raymond Alden Vaaler

Raymond Alden Vaaler passed away peacefully in Scottsdale, AZ on August 26, 2018. He was born in Grand Forks, ND on March 20, 1923. His parents were Raymond Alfred Vaaler and Alice Stephanie (Engebretson) Vaaler. A Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at the Vasa Lutheran Cemetery in rural Esmond, ND.

Raymond’s 95 years were well-lived. While studying at the University of North Dakota, Ray was drafted by the US Army in 1943. He entered the Army Specialized Training Program and continued to study medicine until the end or WWII. Ray received his Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1945. He earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1947. He completed his medical training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Duke University in NC and University of Kansas. Ray enlisted in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a Captain and battalion surgeon stationed near the front from 1950 to 1952. Ray practiced medicine in North Dakota until moving his family to Arizona in 1962.

A majority of his career was spent practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Phoenix for 30 years. He was among the earliest surgeons to complete training in Gynecological Laser Surgery in 1985 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.

Raymond married his college sweetheart Ann Irene Vaaler from Esmond, ND in 1946 in Chicago. They had two children, Jim and Barbi. Ray loved to plan road trips. His family made many good memories on their fishing, camping and swimming vacations.

After arriving in Arizona, one of their first adventures was to backpack into the Grand Canyon. Years later Ray accompanied his son Jim, an experienced river runner, on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in Jim’s inflatable boat. Barbi followed and went with Jim down the river a few years later. Ray and Ann shared a passion for golf for almost 50 years. They both were die-hard Cardinals and Diamondbacks fans.

Raymond was predeceased in 2014 by his bride, Ann. He is survived by his son, James Raymond Vaaler (Lynn) of Phoenix and his daughter, Barbara Vaaler Buchanan (John) or Payson. Raymond and Ann had four loving grandchildren, Lisa Vaaler, Christina Vaaler (Stephen), Bryn Buchanan and John Buchanan. Christina and Stephen gave Ray and Ann three darling great grandchildren, Alex, Katarina and Liam. He also leaves behind many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.