Obituary of Raymond Edward Rouse

Raymond Edward Rouse (84) resident of St. Maries, ID passed away at the Kootenai Health in Coeur d’ Alene, ID surrounded by his family. He was born to Raymond and Helen (McGivney) Rouse on January 29, 1937, in Philadelphia, PA. Ray grew up in Quakertown, PA. He left home at the age of 15 in search of adventures. He worked on a horse ranch, a tobacco farm, a dairy farm, and oil fields in Alaska. He married Kay Helwig 1961 in Pennsylvania and had 2 children, Suzanne, and Ray. The family moved to Alaska in 1965 and had a third child, Michelle. Ray’s dream of homesteading and adventure prompted him to build a cabin in the wilderness. Which he did. Later he left for the lower states. He met Valerie Redding and her 4 children in Oregon they married. Still having the adventure spirit, they packed up and moved up the Benewah. in the beginning, they stayed in a tent while Ray and his family built a cabin on the property. Not having running water or electricity they moved into St. Marie’s where he went to work for Fleet Parts as a Machinist. in May 1978, the family moved to Columbia City, OR where Ray worked on tugboats, he also owned a gun smith business. In 1996 Ray and Valerie returned to St. Marie’s. Ray went to work for Ferdinand in Harrison, later he returned to Fleet Parts retiring in 2002, not ready to retire he opened North Idaho Vinyl Graphics and ran it a few years before selling it to Marie Weber. Ray was an extremely talented artist and at several times would have his art displayed in galleries. He was equally talented in the kitchen, and anyone who had his treats would attest to that. He played guitar in the community band, volunteered at the Benewah Humane Society, St. Joe Valley Search and Rescue, and was a devout member of the St. Mary Immaculate Catholic church. Ray is survived by his wife Valerie at their home in St. Maries; children Suzanne Rouse, Michelle (Raymond) Whittock, and Raymond Rouse all of Palmer, AK, Susan, (Sam) Dittman of St. Maries, ID, and Daniel (Barbara) Redding of St. Helens, OR sister Elise Deckert of Las Vegas, NV; 10 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his children David Redding and Diana Redding. A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday June 23, 2021, at. 6:00 pm. A Memorial Mass will be on June 24, 2021, at 11:00 am with a meal following at the Benedictine Hall. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries.