Raymond "Ray" Hilken

Obituary ~ "Ray" / "Papa Ray" HILKEN
April 26, 1939 to July 15, 2025

Ray was born in Martin county MN, the youngest of 4 children to Henry Hilken and Margaret Hilken, néE Atzenhoefer. He was baptized into the Christian faith at Trinity Lutheran Church, and he was raised on a farmstead in Monterey. He attended school in Trimont, MN. Before Henry, Margaret, and Ray left the farm and moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1956 where Ray attended Des Moines Technical High School. Alongside his studies he also played the tuba in the marching band. This love for music lasted his entire life, singing at church and attending innumerable concerts of every sort.

In Des Moines, Henry and Margaret were employed as a team to serve as custodians and plant manager of a 6-story apartment building on Tonawanda Dr., the "Wetherell". The family lived in a small apartment in the basement. Margaret was also individually employed by the various residents as house-keeper.

Ray graduated with a certificate in Sheet Metal Working and went to work as an apprentice for Waldinger Corp. in 1957.

The family was active in their faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines where Ray fell in love with a young lady by the name of La Vonn Prine. They were engaged in the fall and married in November of 1958.

Their son, Dennis Ray, was born in '59. Through Dennis' birth, advanced colon cancer was discovered in La Vonn and she lived another 23 months.

During this painful season, Ray and La Vonn teamed with Ray's parents to raise Dennis, living in that little apartment in the basement of the "Wetherell" apartment as Ray worked faithfully to become a journeyman "tinner".

In 1963, participating at the "Gamma Delta" group (20-something singles) at Trinity, he met Glenda Grage who was studying to be an X-ray technician at the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. Glenda embraced the idea of a 24 yr old single male with a son and their relationship led to an engagement early in '64 and marriage on July 5, 1964 at Trinity Lutheran Church on University Ave..

Ray and Glenda lived on the 5th floor of the Wetherell for the first few months of marriage before purchasing their first home on 55th Street in 1965 and with that move, their family began attending Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Franklin Ave, at which they remained faithful and very active members for the remainder of their years on earth.

Ray and Glenda loved to travel and explore God's creation. Rarely staying in a hotel, they lived in tents and pop-up trailers as they explored most all of the continental US, Canada, and Alaska. Later they traveled internationally and went on cruises and never missed a milestone event of their children.

In 1966 Glenda became pregnant with their first child together. A difficult pregnancy led Glenda to 3 months of bedrest and Ray took on the homemaking role until Robert Glen was born on March 10, 1967. Pregnant again in December of 1969, they decided to move to a larger home on Drake St. in Clive and Dale Arthur was born there on September 23, 1970. Ray and Glenda lived out their days in the Drake St. home.

Ray and Glenda were married for one week shy of 53 years. Ray served her at home for months as she succumbed to stomach cancer in 2017.

Scouting was an important area of service for Ray, serving as assistant and then Scout master for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, supporting Rob and Dale through years of Scouting and watching Rob attain the coveted level of Eagle Scout.

Ray donated approximately 50 GALLONS of blood over the years.

In the early 80's alcohol abuse became a damaging fixture in their home and led to both actively participating in "the program" - AA and Al-Anon. Within these circles they became and remained sober and developed multitudes of relationships. Over the years Ray befriended, sponsored, supported, and served countless fellow participants, many of which have now been lovingly supporting him over the last 1½ years as Ray's health deteriorated, giving him rides as he lost his ability to drive.

At Mt. Olive, he faithfully attended worship, ushered, attended Bible Study and their Small Group, served as a Trustee and Elder, and then in his retirement, worked with a couple other guys to, 4-5 days per week, serve as maintenance for the buildings, support for the teachers, participant in the programs (such as VBS), and serve hot lunch to the students.

He served his family in the same way; whenever there was a need, Ray "showed up". To help one of his kids move, fix a car, repair a house, attend every milestone event, or simply come visit.

In his last few years, a widow from their Small Group at church, Luerna Sawyer, became Ray's travel and life experiences partner and very much a part of the Hilken family.

Ray's health deteriorated significantly over the past 6 months preventing him from participating in the things he loved most: Church, family, and Meetings. The stroke on July 5 served as God's grace to allow him a perfect promotion to eternal life; getting to be visited by many who loved and appreciated him before he exited this existence into the presence of his Savior with family at his side.

Ray was preceded in death by his wife, La Vonn ('58-'61), wife, Glenda, ('64-2017) parents, his brothers, Richard and Russell, sister, Hazel, daughter-in-law, MC. He is survived by son, Dennis-wife Judy and their 3 sons, Colby, Christopher, and Chandler and through them, 11 great-grandchildren, son, Rob, son, Dale and his son Dalton and Dalton's mom, Shannon.

In lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation to support the wonderfully effective and growing ministry of Mt. Olive Lutheran School.