Ray Niehuus

In Loving Memory of Ray Niehuus April 13, 1950-January 24, 2011 Raymond Marshall Niehuus was born on April 13, 1950 in Lewistown, Montana to Marshall and Pauline Niehuus. Ray grew up playing pranks on his mom, his brother, and the local mortician. As a teenager, Ray remodeled two Model A's, waited tables at his parents' restaurant, and repossessed tires off parked cars with his father. Ray graduated from Flathead High School in Kalispell, Montana with the class of 1968 and matriculated at Montana State University the same year. In his first year of college, Ray lost his younger brother, Danny, in a tragic car accident. In his second year, Ray broke his leg during a spontaneous ski race and wore a thigh-high cast for nine months afterward. During his third and fourth years, he paid for his education "working" as a pool shark with a convincing poker face. On school vacations, he worked on oil rigs in the Gulf. In 1972, Ray graduated from MSU with a degree in chemical engineering. 1973 meant Dad's first full-time job for Dresser Industries as a sales and service rep. On October 7, 1978, Ray took Linda Marhofer to be his wife in Houston, Texas. After a short honeymoon in Scotland, the couple headed for the world-renowned desert hot spot of Dubai, where they stayed for nine years. As PADI instructors, Ray and Linda scuba dove from the Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef. Ray took pictures; Linda wrote in travel journals. February 3, 1984 saw the birth of Ray and Linda's first wonderful child: Nathan. Rachel, "Sweet Pea," followed shortly thereafter on August 22, 1985. Finally, Michael came along on March 21, 1987. Ray made the delivery by seconds: despite poor grades in university, he had bargained his way into Purdue University's Krannert School of Management and was in the middle of final exams when Linda went into labor with Michael! 1989: school is out, and Ray walks with an MBA from Purdue. In New Orleans for three years, Ray complained about the bad service and bought his first BMW motorcycle. Paris, France was the next stop. After the teeny downtown apartment came the house in the suburbs and a lot of walking. But, life in Paris was short-lived. Nigeria was calling. While Linda and the kids roughed it in Houston with a mutt named Mittens, Ray pursued African Grey parrots in the West African jungle. After all, he needed a present to bring back to the kids after a year's absence. When he finally returned to his family and Texas (parrot-less), Ray decided to pursue his dream as a cattle rancher. On November 18, 1992, the HayWire Ranch was purchased. Twelve Santa Gertrudis heifers were thrown into the deal and became an integral part of the kids' college fund. Beach vacations in Ft. Lauderdale became contingent on success at the cow show, and Ray learned how to artificially inseminate a cow. Hay Ink., a hay baling company that Ray began his close friend Ed, is a testament to Ray's devotion to his tractor. When he wasn't on his tractor or at work, Ray was running from the law on his motorcycle, "Presence," through the Texas backcountry. From his motorcycle "spacesuit" to the outfits he wore when picking his children up from school, Ray always seemed to make a lasting impression. Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Angola: Ray's resume covers seven pages; still, his biggest accomplishment has been his role as a father. Ray is survived by his three children. The memories that he has made and the lessons that he has taught will last for the years that his body couldn't. Memorial Service 3:00 pm, Thursday, January 27, 2011 Concordia Hall in Bellville, TX Opening by Bobby Ables Sharing memories: Linda Niehuus Nathan Niehuus Rachel Niehuus Michael Niehuus Tom Yochim Ed Barker Other friends Closing Gathering to follow at the HayWire Ranch: 1845 Tiemann Road, New Ulm, Texas Friends who wish to make memorial gifts: Office of Development Krannert School of Management Purdue University 403 West State Street, Room 160 West Lafayette, IN 47907 Make checks payable to: Purdue Foundation Memo: Scholarship fund in memory of Ray Niehuus