Raymond "Ray" Kelsch, 75, Linton, died Sunday, September 28, 2014, at Linton Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday October 2, 2014 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Linton, ND. Visitation will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home, and continue from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the church where there will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour before time of service at the church on Thursday.Ray, son of Jacob and Monica (Horner) Kelsch grew up in Linton attending (rural school), Brunnerdale Seminary School in Canton, Ohio and graduating from Linton High School in 1958. He went on to study refrigeration at ND State College of Science. In the 60's, he was a technical inspector and site negotiator for the Minuteman Missile silos in Arkansas, and Kansas. In 1968, he was offered a job with Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Huntsville, AL; however, his father became ill and he returned to ND to take over the family farm.He married Patricia Fahlsing in 1969 and together they had four children. His farming operation initially consisted of dairy cattle but later diversified to beef cattle, wheat and sunflowers. In the 90's, he moved off the farm and began trucking (hauling hay, anhydrous and asphalt). In 1994, he married Linda Jangula Schumacher and he continued trucking until 2008 when he began working for the Bureau of Land Reclamation restoring strip mines to natural prairie. During the off the season he worked with Mike Wikenheiser on numerous projects showing he was as versatile as a Swiss army knife, of which he had many.Ray was an active member of the community and belonged to numerous organizations including the ND National Guard (57-68), Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Foresters, Jaycees, and sat on boards for the Linton School, Cenex, Farmers Union and Fireman's Association. He was an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church (choir, reader, communion minister and Parish Council).Raymond was known for his strong work ethic, sense of humor, love of family and no-nonsense approach to life. He loved all children but had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He was known for reading silly bedtime stories and you would often hear the grandchildren say, "That's not how it goes Grandpa!". He loved to play pinochle; go fishing or play Santa Claus with family and friends; and drive out to country where he would stop to toot his horn at the cows and shout, "Hi Girls!". His charm and charisma drew people to him. He put smiles on people's faces wherever he went whether they knew him or not.He was preceded in death by his parents (Jacob & Monica) and his fathers-in-law (Harold Fahlsing and Adam Jangula). He will be greatly missed by his wife, Linda, his five children: Nicole (Armando) Visitacion, Camarillo CA; Lois (Dirk) Schulz, Wadena, MN; Owen (Judith) Kelsch, St Cloud, MN; Ethan Kelsch, Delray Beach, FL; Britt (Linda) Lindstrom, Louisville, KY; his 3 step-children: Scott (Tegan) Schumacher, Lakeville MN; Steve (Billie) Schumacher, Linton; Susan (Ryan) Fjeldheim, Groton, SD; 10 grandchildren: Ariel & Dylan Jahner; Armando & Sofia Visitacion; Nevada & Mercedes Schulz; Siana, Mary, Henry & Charles Kelsch; 9 step-grandchildren: Nicholas, Ashlyn, & Rachel Schumacher; Lucas, Gracie & Brooklyn Schumacher; Anna, Abby & Drew Fjeldheim); his siblings and their spouses: Theresa (Alvin) Tschosik; Jerome (Evelyn) Kelsch; Nicholas (Frances) Kelsch; Annella (Ronald) Schumacher; Mary Ann (Thomas) Baumgartner; Lucille (Garold) Just; Phyllis (Duke) Rosendahl; Catherine (Daniel) Imdieke; Richard (Mary) Kelsch; mothers-in-law (Lorraine Fahlsing; Angela Jangula); son-in-law Duane Jahner; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.