Raymond Sonderup, 80, died Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at his home in Blair.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at First Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, April 9, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Raymond “Ray” Sonderup was born July 18, 1929, at St. Paul to Michael and Elsie (Dahl) Sonderup.

He attended the District 56 Country School in Wolbach, Cumming City and Blair Schools. He moved to Blair in 1941.

He married Betty Nelson on Nov. 15, 1950, in Blair.

Mr. Sonderup was a Korean veteran, serving from Aug. 17, 1951, to May 26, 1953.

The Sonderups had three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Sonderup worked as farmers from 1953-1969. In 1968, they moved to the Howdy Hansen farm east of Blair. In 1969, he built their gas station, Ray’s Gulf, located next to the Dairy Queen in Blair. They moved to town in 1971, and he built the Starlight Motel in 1972, which they still own and operate. They also owned Ray’s Towing from 1973-1989.

Mr. Sonderup was a member of the First Baptist Church, VFW and the American Legion. He was a hard worker; he enjoyed his farming life, working at the gas station and the motel. He always had a lot of mowing to do at the motel and he took care of the grass at the church.

When his grandchildren were younger, he enjoyed taking them fishing and showing them how to work. He could fix anything; he was a great teacher to his daughters and grandchildren when they were growing up. When he couldn’t work anymore, his wife had him folding sheets from the motel and putting together puzzles. He framed all the puzzles he put together. He also enjoyed his great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Loren Jones of Blair, Shirley and Steve Baker of Modale, Iowa, and Mary Erixon, also of Blair; five grandchildren, Matt Tighe of Cedar Rapid, Lucus and Taffy Jones, Jared and Laura Tighe, and Chris and Holly Baker, all of Blair, and Lynette and Mike Smith of Omaha; and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brothers; Merle, Delmar and Harold Sonderup.

Memorials are suggested to Blair Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, First Baptist Church and American Cancer Society.

#2 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Raymond “Ray” N.W. Sonderup

Born July 18, 1929 St. Paul, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest April 7, 2010 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 10:30 A.M. Saturday, April 10, 2010 First Baptist Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Doug Russell, Charles Lyccynski. Organist: Cheryl Baron. Vocalist: Shirley Schmidt. Musical Selections: “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace”, “Go Rest High On That Mountain”

Casket Bearers: David Angle, Rick Hillman, Bruce Arp, Jon Sonderup, Jerry Glover, Jim Sumey

Honorary Casket Bearers: Chris Baker, Lynette Smith, Jared Tighe, Lucus Jones, Matt Tighe

Military Graveside Services: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

Arrangements by Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 50827097