Raymond “Ray” Lenk passed away Friday, November 24, 2023, at the age of 92. He was a long-time resident of Dupree and was currently living at the Parkwood Apartments in Pierre.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 1, 2023, from 6-7 p.m. and a Scripture Wake service will begin at 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupree.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the church followed by a meal and socializing. The burial will take place at the Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.
Ray was born in Moran Township, near Staples, MN, on August 30, 1931 to Charles and Elizabeth (Kobliska) Lenk. His early life was spent on the family farm. He graduated from Staples High School in 1950. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Korean Conflict.
In May of 1954 he began his banking career at the Staples State Bank in Staples. On August 18, 1955 he married Grace Lukes at St. Isadore’s Catholic Church in Moran Township. They made their home in Staples, then moved to Crookston, MN in January 1959, where he served as assistant cashier at the Crookston National Bank.
On February 2, 1962, Ray, Grace, and son Quinn moved to Dupree;
August 30, 1931 – November 24, 2023
where Ray became cashier of the Farmers State Bank. In December 1990, Ray became vice-president of the bank and president of the Dupree Insurance Agency. During this period two daughters joined the family: Nancy in 1965 and Gwendolyn in 1968.
Ray was very active in city government. He served on the city council from 1963 to 1966, as mayor from 1966 to 1977, and as finance officer for the city from 1990 to 1998. He then again served as mayor from October 2011 to May 2016, and on the city council from May 2016 to May of 2017.
Ray also served on the Dupree School Board, Northwest Area Schools Board, Ziebach County Soil Conservation District Board, Tatanka RC&D Board, and was vice-president of Western SD meals program and site manager for the Dupree Nutrition site for 30 years.
Ray was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupree. He served as lector, trustee, and taught CCD. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #6537 since 1958, served as Grand Knight for two years and District Deputy for four years.
Left to miss Ray are his son Quinn Lenk and his friend Valerie Tomac of Dupree; daughters Nancy (Royce) Bialas of Dante and Gwendolyn Lenk of Framingham, MA; two grandchildren, Allison (Dylanger) Pierson of Mitchell and Joshua Cimpl of Wagner; great-grandson Steele Pierson; sister-in-law Mary Koep; and many nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Grace in 1999; father and mother-in-law Joseph and Sarah Lukes; son-in-law Mike Cimpl in 2013; brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Betty Lukes and Rita Lukes and Walter Koep.
(Condolences may be sent to: Quinn Lenk, PO Box 525, Dupree, SD 57623; Nancy Bialas, 312 Main Street, Dante, SD 57329; or Gwendolyn Lenk, 22 Perry Henderson Dr., Framingham, MA 01701)