Raymond "Jim" Blum was born March 22, 1933 at Naper, Nebraska to Leo and Elizabeth (Halbur) Blum and he died August 24, 2008 at his home in Naper, Nebraska, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, at the age of 75 years. Jim lived all of his life around the Naper area and attended the Naper Public School. He was drafted into the Army on May 8, 1953. He served his country at Fort Chaffe, Arkansas; Camp Carson, Colorado and served in Germany for 14 months. He was discharged on April 20, 1955. On October 15, 1953 he was united in marriage to Velva June Vogt. Upon his discharge from the Army he began working for the State of Nebraska Department of Roads. In the fall of 1955 he and Velva June moved to a farm south of Naper, where his parents lived. They farmed for 33 years retiring in 1987 and moving into Naper. Jim served as chairman of the Township Board for twelve years during which he ran the maintenance for the township. He then ran the maintenance for the county until the spring of 2008. He was a life member of the Naper VFW Post #8256. He and Velva June served as janitors for the Naper Auditorium and the VFW for several years. Jim also played baseball and softball in his younger years. He loved to hunt, fish and camp. He had a great love for his family, spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending their activities. Jim was preceded in death by his son, Delmar and by his parents, Leo and Elizabeth. Jim is survived by his wife, Velva June of Naper, NE; his children: Wanda (David) Linnaus of Oakdale, NE; Kevin (Rogena) of Norfolk, NE; Lori (Dan) Vanden Bos of Gregory, SD and Randy of Seattle, WA; 16 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren, 2 brothers: Melvin (Sylvia) of O'Neill, NE and Gerald (Shirley) of Halbur, IA; one sister, Joyce (Craig) Mohling of Hastings, NE; as well as several nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM at the Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte, Nebraska. Burial will in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Naper, NE. There will be a rosary on Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the church in Butte.