Raymond L. Schulte

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Minnehaha County Fire Chief Burn Fund (608 N. Sigler Ave.; Sioux Falls, SD 57104).

Raymond Lloyd Schulte was born on December 16, 1950 to Francis and Regina (Steilen) Schulte in Mitchell, South Dakota. He was raised in nearby Emery, South Dakota where he graduated from Emery High School with the class of 1969. He then attended Mitchell Vocational and Technical College where he studied electronics. He enlisted in the United State Air Force in 1971 and served his country for the next four years. He returned to South Dakota where he lived in Hartford. Ray was married and divorced to Janet Steele and later Dee James [Ericksen]. He began employment at Union Telephone Company and after 42 years on the job, Ray retired from the company in March of 2018, which at the time was Golden West. He then worked part time from 2018 to 2022 at Justice Fire and Safety in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Finley Engineering in Slayton, Minnesota. Ray was a volunteer for the Hartford Fire and Rescue Team from 1977-2010. He served as an Assistant Chief for five years and Fire Chief for twelve years. He was a very proud member of the Hartford team whom developed a firefighter safety program that went on to be used by numerous other fire departments. Ray served as Vice President of the South Dakota Fire Instructor’s Association, was a member of the Minnehaha County Fire Chief’s Association and the South Dakota State EMT test team. He retired as a lifetime member of the Hartford Fire Department and Minnehaha Fire Chief’s Association. Ray married Laura Earl [Ewoldt] on May 7, 2022. The couple made their home in Luverne, Minnesota. On Friday, October 6, 2023, Ray died peacefully at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 72 years, 9 months and 21 days.

Ray enjoyed dirt track racing and watching his favorite television show, M.A.S.H. He was a member of the American Legion in Hartford. He served on the Hartford Race Track for fire and rescue and told the joke, “I left my heart in San Francisco – I left my toes at Hartford Race Track”. The fire department was an integral part of Ray’s life. He was always working to make things better and when he had free time, you could find him helping at the fire department. He loved serving his community and the comradery he had with his firefighting family.

Ray is survived by his wife, Laura Schulte of Luverne; son, Lance (Ryan) Schulte of West Dundee, Illinois; several bonus kids and grandkids; siblings, Eileen Tobin of Parkston, South Dakota, Kathy (Paul) Iburg of Alexandria, South Dakota, Tony (Linda) Schulte of Freeman, South Dakota, Donna (Joel) Fluth of Emery, David (Barb) Schulte of Mitchell, and Mark (Michele) Schulte of Emery; other relatives and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Beverly Schulte.