After graduation Ray joined the Army and did his time from Africa to Germany. After his discharge he went into the business of Geo Swanson & Sons with his father and brother in law. And then he joined the National Guard and was called into the Korean Conflict and spent time in Alabama and Wisconsin training. He was discharged from the National Guard just before his unit was called to action in Korea. When he came back he bought the shares in the business from his father and brother in law and together with his wife Danny in the next 38 years they built the business from 2 employees to 35 to 40. Going from sharpening plow shears, doing farm machinery repairs, making and installing ornamental iron and construction industry services to becoming a prime manufacturer of waste removal equipment, large trash containers and sold and serviced trash trucks and compacters. Ray has 2 patents for the rear end loading equipment on the trash trucks.
In 1976 Ray and Danny moved to their new home on 5 acres south of Longmont. They loved the gardening and the wonderful view of the mountains which Ray missed greatly when he no longer could see them. They sold the business in 1985 and in 2000 moved back to Arvada.
Ray was on the board that organized Little League Football in JeffCo. He was an officer of the Arvada Jr. Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Sr. Chamber. Ray and Danny were charter members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church which membership they dropped when they moved to the farm and their Sundays were spent in the garden.
He is survived by his wife VaLeta "Danny," sons: Steve (Lonni) & Reed (Lena), and grandchildren: Derek (Becky), Brett, Adrian (Caitlin) and Karli. Visitation will be Monday, September 28, 2015 from 5-7pm at Crown Hill Mortuary. Celebration of life will be Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 10am at the Crown Hill Pavilion of Reflection. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to the Alzheimers Associaton 455 Sherman St #500, Denver, CO 80203, http://www.alz.org/.
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