Raymond P. Brech was born May 18, 1920, on a farm near Parkston, South Dakota, to Joseph St. and Mary Miller Brech.

At the age of three, he moved with his parents to a farm near Cottonwood, South Dakota.  He grew up there and received his education in the Cottonwood area.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the Aleutian Islands and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater operations for which he received the Bronze Star Medal.

After the discharge he moved to Philip, South Dakota, where he worked as a ranch hand for several years.  In 1955 he became employed with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad.  In 1982 he retired but continued to make his home in Philip.

He was a member of the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173 and the V.F.W. Post #3069, both of Philip.

Grateful for having shared his life are his brother, Theodore J. Brech of Parkston, South Dakota; his sister, Sally Gebes of Philip; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Delmar L. Brech, Urban W. Brech and Joseph Brech Jr.; three sisters, Hildegard Hohn, Lucille Smith and Irene McIlravy.

Services
Wednesday, December 19, 1990
11:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Father Arnold Kari

Music
Maureen Palecek - Organist
Merlin Bennett - Vocalist

Reader
Betty Smith

Altar Server
Darren Gebes

Ushers
Darrel Brech - Dave Sieler

Active Pallbearers
George Brech - Lynn Brech
Kenneth McIlravy - Jim Smith
Michael Gebes - Scott Brech

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Military Honors
by the Wheeler-Brooks American
Legion Post #173
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota