Obituary of Raymond A. Mai

Raymond A. Mai, 90, of Lindsborg, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Bethany Home in Lindsborg, KS.  Raymond was born April 13, 1928, in rural Trego County, KS to the late William and Martha (Deines) Mai.   Ray’s siblings included Arthur, Katherine, Vernon, Carl, William, Marilyn, and David.

Ray and his family moved from Trego County, Kansas to Greeley County and then eventually to Wallace County on a farm south of Sharon Springs.  Ray graduated from Wallace County High School in 1946 and continued farming with his dad.   In his mid-20’s, Ray attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and Seattle while he discerned a call to the ministry.  After receiving a clear sense of God’s call, Ray left the farm to attend Bethany College, graduating in 1956, and eventually to Augustana Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois.  While at Bethany, Ray met Ruth Odahl and they were married at Fremont Lutheran Church June 14, 1957.  To that marriage was born four children; Diane, Sonja, Melissa, and Shawn.

Ray served congregations in Gwinner, North Dakota, Clay Center, Kansas, Blue Springs, Missouri, Rockford, Illinois, and Gothenburg, Nebraska.  When Ruth was diagnosed with cancer, Ray moved the family to Lee’s Summit, Missouri to seek better medical care for his wife.  Ruth died in October 1977.

Ray became the operator administrator of White Cross Nursing Home in Smolan, Kansas in January 1978.  The family moved to Smolan and then eventually to Lindsborg.   In October of 1979, Ray married Ardyce Johnson-Davies.  Ardyce came into the marriage with three children; Ken, Tim, and Kathy.

While working as the administrator of White Cross Nursing Home, Ray also began parish ministry again, doing pulpit supply in the area and eventually becoming associate pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church.  He served Bethany from 1980- 1984.   Ray also served Excelsior and Denmark Lutheran Churches near Wilson, Kansas and served several long term interim calls at Salemsborg/Falun, Assaria, Abilene, and Newton.

Ray was always proud of building several businesses.  He added to his nursing home administrative work nursing homes in Salina and Abilene.  In 1986, along with his son-in-law, Bill Taylor built the Autowash and Storage Compound in Lindsborg.   He continued active work in his businesses until the age of 87.

Ray was actively involved in the community (Lions Club, Senior Center ), Bethany Lutheran Church (Adult Bible Study), and Bethany College (Bethany Oratorio Society). 

Ardyce passed away in October 2016.  Ray moved to Bethany Assisted Living and eventually to Bethany Home.   He felt immense gratitude for the care he received, the friends he made, and for the visits from his children and grandchildren.   The family would like to express their gratitude for the staff and care Bethany Home provided.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 1, 2019 at Crick-Christians Funeral, Lindsborg.

The funeral will be held 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 320 N. Main St., Lindsborg, KS with Chaplain Phillip Hett  and Pastor Jim Strasen, officiating.  Burial will be in Sharon Springs Cemetery, Sharon Springs, KS on Wednesday, April 3 at 11:00 am mountain time.

Memorials may be made to the Bethany Lutheran Church, Bethany College, or Bethany Home.  Memorials may be sent in care of Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67546.