Raymond R. "Ray" Ghering, Sr. was born February 16, 1918, in Scotland, South Dakota, the son of Ralph and Caroline (Muhuel) Ghering.

He grew up in the Olivet community and graduated from Olivet High School in 1936.

As a young man he farmed and trapped in the Olivet area.

In the summer months, Ray traveled with a carnival. He boxed and wrestled for the carnival in sideshows. In 1940 he was the Golden Glove Champion in the light heavyweight class, and in 1941 he was Golden Glove Champion in the heavyweight class.

Ray was united in marriage to Inez Gunn in September 1941 in Nebraska, and to this union was born four children.

After their marriage the family traveled the upper Midwest with a carnival where Ray continued his boxing and wrestling sideshows.

In 1959, the family moved to Wall, South Dakota where Ray worked in Predator Control for the Federal Government. Later when the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks took over the Predator Control he worked for the state.

His wife Inez preceded him in death in 1972.

He continued to reside in Wall. Ray was united in marriage to Nyla Jacob on November 20, 1973 in Wall. Ray continued to work for the state until his retirement in 1983. Ray and Nyla continued to make their home in Wall until health reasons forced him into the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood in October 2001, where he has since resided.

Raymond was a member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Wall Sportsman Club, Ducks Unlimited, and a twenty-six year member of AA.

In the early 1960’s Ray taught boxing in Wall to young men. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and teaching hunter’s safety courses. He loved teaching kids how to hunt, fish, and trap.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Nyla Ghering of Wall; five sons David Ghering and his fiancé Tiffany Hunt of Rapid City, Raymond Ghering Jr. and his wife Scottie of Gillette, Wyoming, Richard Johnson and his wife Peggy of Rapid City, Dan Johnson and his wife Kathy of Roseburg, Oregon, and Dewey Johnson and his wife Crystal of Sioux Falls; six daughters Carmen Crawford and her husband Richard of Rapid City, Patty McVey and her husband Ron of Whittman, Arizona, Betty Lloyd of Whittman, Arizona, Debra Welsh and her husband Clifford of Centralia Washington, Dawn Lyons and her husband Al of Centralia Washington, and Denise Kranhold and her husband Cory of Sisseton, South Dakota; twenty-six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to his first wife Inez, Raymond was preceded in death by one grandson, Jay Crawford, his parents, and two brothers.

Visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. all at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wall.

Mass of Christian Burial for Raymond R. "Ray" Ghering, Sr. was held 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 3, 2002 at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wall, with Father Bob Baden as celebrant.

Interment was in the Wall Cemetery.

A memorial is established.