Roger Ray Brubaker

Roger Ray Brubaker

BILLINGS - Roger Ray Brubaker, "Ray", died peacefully August 5, 2024 at the Springs Living at Grand Park in Billings. He was 89 and left us just a week before his 90th Birthday.

Ray was the fourth of five rambunctious boys born to Don and Emma Brubaker in Hugoton, KS and was raised and worked on the family wheat farm.

Ray joined the Army in 1954 and was stationed at the world famous Presidio in San Francisco. Upon returning to Kansas, after the Army, Ray met the future love of his life, Ann Whitehead, on a blind date. He was particularly smitten because Ann had a striking resemblance to Doris Day who was Ray's favorite actress.

That date turned out to be successful since Ann and Ray enjoyed 45 very happy years together before Ann's untimely death in 2004. They were married on June 1, 1957 just a week after Ann graduated from high school. Ray and Ann had two children, Matt and Craig.

Ray began working for the Bureau of Land Management in the early 60's after graduating from college. He had a very long successful career with the BLM ultimately rising to the position of State Director of the State of Wyoming. One of the most important positions in the BLM.

Ray and the family moved several times on his road up the ladder living in Oregon, California, Nevada, Montana, Alaska, Missouri, and Wyoming.

He retired in 1994 and in 1995 Ray and Ann moved back to Billings so that Ann could pursue her favorite pastime, being grandma to grandson, Brett, who was only too happy to have grandma (and grandpa) around full time.

After Ann's death Ray spent his time golfing and bowling, both sports he loved. Brett and Ray spent many memorable hours on the golf course.

Ray leaves behind sons: Matt and Craig; grandson, Brett; sisters-in-law: Bobi, Sharon and Rhonda; and numerous nieces and nephews who considered uncle Ray to be their Favorite.

Special thanks goes out to the Springs Living and their entire staff along with the staff at Footsteps Memory Care, and Stillwater Hospice.

A memorial service will be held on at Hope United Methodist Church, 246 Wicks Lane Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM.