Raymond H. Pille

Ray Pille was born at home near Marshall, MN on January 25, 1936 during a snowstorm and delivered by his father. Parents, Gaston and Martha Pille, were tenant farmers that emigrated from Belgium. Raymond was their second son, the first being Andrew, followed by Clara, Emile, Mary and Donna, who all survive him. Ray attended a rural grade school but graduated from high school in Cottonwood, MN in 1953.

Ray farmed with his dad and brother, Andrew, until he enlisted in the Army in 1957. Ray served, mostly in Europe, as secretary to a Major. He returned to civilian life the summer of 1959 and worked with his uncle, George Beernaert, as a house painter. An avid dancer, Ray met his future wife at a ballroom in Montevideo, MN in August 1959.

Ray went on to work for a large redi-mix company and later drove a cattle truck from the west side of Minnesota to the St. Paul, MN stock yards for a cattle company. At the time of his marriage to Alvina (Ellie) Ebel in February of 1961, he began driving and selling ice cream for Schwan’s Ice Cream of Marshall, MN to the rural area of South Dakota.

During his time selling ice cream, Ray would wheel and deal with all the farmers, his favorite purchases buying old guns, thus earning the nickname, Shoota. A keen hunter, Ray would often be out during hunting seasons going after deer, geese or pheasant.

Ray and his family lived in Marshall until February 1970, when Ray became a regional manager for Schwans, after which Ray and family moved to Oakes, ND, where they lived until June 1972. Then Ray became a divisional manager for Schwans and moved his family to Taylor, TX in 1972.

In 1974 Ray and his family moved to 11 acres on Old Thorndale Road in Taylor, where he proceeded to raise four boys, and a wide variety of farm animals. He bought Slim Thompson Wholesale Company in 1975 and moved its location to Thorndale Road where it became Ray Pille Sales.

Ray semi-retired in June of 2001 and sold his warehouse. He continued selling caps, calendars, pens and more until his death on April 24, 2013.

Ray was a member of the American Legion for 38 years. Ray was also a member of Ducks Unlimited and truly enjoyed the annual fund raising events.

Ray is survived by his wife, Ellie Pille, and his four sons, Paul and wife Laura, Michael and wife Deborah, David and wife Loralee, and Patrick and his fiancée Elizabeth, and six grandchildren, Kaitlin, Kappy, Rachel, Jack, Ethan and Evan.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 P.M., Monday, April 29, 2013 at Providence Funeral Home. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M.

Celebration of Life Mass will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Feed the Children or Disabled Veterans.