Raymond Richard Mueller

Raymond Richard Mueller was born August 25, 1930 to Peter and Lydia Mueller in Anamoose, North Dakota and died January 12, 2009 in Idaho Falls, Idaho.   While attending high school in Anamoose he was active in track, baseball, football and drama.   He graduated in 1948.   The family business was a farm and then in town a blacksmith shop.  In order to be able to attend school with the winters being so bad, he and his sister lived in an apartment in town where the cost was $25 a month. 

Ray Mueller married Gladys Grace Schmidt in 1951.  When he saw her, a buddy dared him to go up and kiss her.  He went and did.  She slapped him and so he kissed her again.   They had seven children to this marriage and later divorce.

He worked on the family farm, moved to Minot and was a taxi and bus driver.  He also taught school in a country school house. They then moved to Montana and worked in the mines.  After an accident in the mine he found a new job and home in Shelley, Idaho.  He worked at Frenchs for many years.  He started out as a broom pusher and ended up as a Maintenance man in Fresh pack.            

After the divorce he moved to California where he worked at John Kautz Farms, Tillie Lewis Foods, Diamond Walnut, Foster Farms and then retired working at Tri Valley Growers.

In California he met Barbara Lindberg at the North Dakota Dance Club and they loved to dance. They married in 1975 and she added three more children to the family.  Greg and (Janice) Barkley, Lodi, Ca; Cindy and (Carey) Koepplin, Filer, Id; Robert and (Chris) Barkley,Galt, Ca.  They were a wonderful addition to our family and we loved them very much.  Barbara passed away on March 23 at Methodist Hospital in Sacramento.

Some of Ray’s favorite pastimes were fishing, hunting, playing his accordions and Miller-Heydt family reunions.

Ray is survived by his seven children, Clorinda (Tom) Johnson, Shelley, Id; Michael (Carol) Mueller, Shelley Id; Russell (Debbie) Mueller, Kuna, Id; Chester Mueller, Las Vegas, Nv; Gary (Sharon) Mueller, Idaho Falls, Id; Rick (Leesa) Mueller, Twin Falls, Id; and Carisa (Dan) Dami, Spokane, Wa. He is also survived by a sister Lillian Sommerfield, Garrison, North Dakota.  He also was blessed with 22 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Mueller, his parents and two brothers.

The last month of his life we were able to bring him back to Idaho to spend time with his family.  With the help of Friends like Dennis and Linda Winsor, Carl and Evelyn Sayer, Dorothy Opp, and the wonderful people at Life Care Center in Idaho Falls, it was a wonderful time that we will treasure. Thanks to all who shared, helped and were a part of dad’s life.

Graveside services will be at the Cherokee Memorial Park (Hwy 99 at Harney Lane) in Lodi, Ca. on January 26, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.