Raymond Robert Buck

Raymond “Ray” Robert Buck, (88), of Desert Hot Springs, California, passed away from cancer in his home on the morning of October 13, 2023. He passed peacefully with his wife Kay and his daughter Cheryl by his side.

Raymond, known fondly as Ray, was born to Robert Henry Buck and Susan Marie (Lutke) Buck on May 21, 1935 in Sidney, Montana. The young family farmed with his Grandparents Henry and Nettie (McCornack) Buck on Richland County land that was Grandpa’s homestead.

Ray completed grade school and then high school in Belgrade, Montana in 1953. He married Beverly Ann Peterson of Billings, Montana in Englewood, Colorado on November 17, 1958. His passion for providing a home to people started in Arvada, Colorado where he managed apartments. He received his first Real Estate license in Helena, Montana in 1967. Ray was a churchman who helped construct a Nazarene church in both Bozeman and Helena, Montana.

Ray successfully served as sales manager of Montana Mobile Homes before moving to Ashland, Oregon late in the summer of 1976 to sell real estate. The Medford Board of Realtors honored him with a life membership to its “Million Dollar Club” in 1990, a result of his high integrity and tireless attention to detail in helping others.

Ray married Katherine “Kay” (Stariha) Lisak of Superior, Wisconsin on Aug 4, 2000 after entering retirement in the desert, having lost his first wife to cancer. Kay’s large, loving family wrapped their arms around Ray as the newly-weds summered in Wisconsin and wintered in the California desert over the next 23 years.

He is preceded in death by his father Robert Buck in 1987; brother William “Bill” Buck in 1996; first wife Beverly (Peterson) in 1998; mother Susan (Lutke) in 2009; and stepson Andy Lisak in 2020.

Ray is survived by his wife Kay; 3 children from his first marriage, Wayne (Jennifer) Buck of Medford, OR, Cheryl (Jon Uravish) Buck of Kelso, WA and Allen Buck of Vancouver, WA; step-children Theresa (Mark) Wilander of Bemidji, MN, Sara Dorfman of Superior, WI, Margie Lisak of Superior, WI, Fran (John) O’Shaughnessy of Rushford, MN and Tom (Beth) Lisak of Superior, WI; 7 grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 6 step-great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Janice (Marvin) Friesen of Dyersville, IA and Nancy (Leroy) Reibling of Shelby Township, MI.

A time of memorial is planned for 11:00AM on November 11 at Central Assembly of God Church, 3000 Hammond Ave., Superior, Wisconsin with fellowship from 10:00-11:00AM.

Another time of memorial is planned for 1:00PM on November 18th at New Life Nazarene Church, 1974 E. McAndrews Rd., Medford, Oregon.

Burial will be at Siskiyou Memorial Park, Medford, Oregon.