Raymond Alfred Smith was born on January 28, 1923, in Grace Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota to Arthur W. and Inga (Larson) Smith. He was baptized and confirmed at Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church. Raymond attended rural district 45 country school and graduated from Benson High School, Benson, MN, in 1941.On September 6, 1952, Raymond was united in marriage to Evelyn Klatt at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. They lived and crop and dairy farmed in Grace Township until they retired in 1989. They were blessed with two children and 46 years of marriage. Evelyn passed away on June 9, 1999. Raymond moved to an assisted living facility in Murdock in 2008 and then moved, in 2010, to Southview Manor Assisted Living in Benson.Raymond was a long-time and very active member of Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church where he held various offices. He was the Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent Financial congregational contact for many years. He was also an election judge, Clerk of Grace Township, officer and director of Swift Cooperative Oil Company, director of Cenex, and a member and officer of the Benson Sons of Norway.Raymond's hobbies included bowling, hunting, fishing, rodent trapping, and playing cards. He and his wife attended many concerts, sporting events, and liked to travel.Raymond died on Saturday morning, March 3, 2012, at Southview Manor. He had attained 89 years, 1 month, and 5 days of age.He is survived by his two children: Gayle (Ron) Monson of Lake Elmo, MN and Alan (Kay) Smith of Apple Valley, MN; three grandchildren: Ryan (Sara) Monson, Rachel Monson Peulen, and Greg (fiancé Britnee Lallas) Monson; three great-grandchildren: Hailey and Violet Peulen and Lana Monson; brother-in-law, Eugene Richter; three sisters-in-law: Betty Danks, Betty Klatt and Shirley Smith; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn, his brother Francis Smith, his brother and sister-in-law Harvey and Charlotte Smith, his sister Eunice Richter, and a sister and brother in infancy.