Ray Spitzenberger, age 85, of Bonesteel, died Thursday, October 13, 2005, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, October 17, 2005, at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, with interment at Rosebud Cemetery in Bonesteel. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.

Ray Spitzenberger was born April 21, 1920, on the family farm near Bonesteel, South Dakota, to Fred and Barbara (Speidel) Spitzenberger. He moved to Bonesteel at a young age with his family. He graduated as the valedictorian of his class from Bonesteel High School in 1938. He worked for his brother, Teke, at the Hiway Service in Bonesteel. He entered the United States Army on September 17, 1941, and served as a radar mechanic in the Fifth Army during World War II in the battles of Rome-Arno and North Appennines. He was discharged from the Army on October 22, 1945. He returned to Bonesteel to work at the service station. On September 9, 1948, he married Yvonne Halverson at Bonesteel. He operated Rays Hiway Service in Bonesteel until his retirement in 1985.

Ray was a member of the Roy Garringer American Legion Post No. 36. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, stamp collecting, and going for drives in the country.

Survivors include his wife, Yvonne, of Bonesteel; two sons: Doug of Bonesteel, and Terry (Ann) of Brookings; a granddaughter, Rosa (Troy) Glaus, of Brookings; three great-granddaughters, Carol Ann, Jolena, and Tia; a brother, Oscar, of Yankton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Elmer.