Ray Wondercheck entered this life on November 18th, 1938, in Cottonwood, NE, as the youngest of 14 siblings. He went to live in Heaven on October 17th, 2017, in La Mesa, CA, at the age of 78, after a brief battle with leukemia. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 54 years, Beverly, his daughters Brenda (Buddy) Smith, Becci (Dan) Sommer, and Lisa (Aaron Lawson) Wondercheck, and grandchildren Arin, Regan, Chris, Megan, Chris, Kyle, Maggie, Ethan, Dustin, Caitlin, CaiCai, six great grandchildren, as well as friends and family. Ray was proceeded in death by his parents, Art Sr. and Rose, six brothers, four sisters, and is survived by his sisters Doris Bise, Nadine Sindelar, and his brother, Joe (Hanne) Wondercheck, and numerous nieces and nephews. Upon graduating from high school in Belgrade, NE, in 1956, Ray joined the Navy. After two years of active service, he graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1968. Go Big Red! He worked for the US Department of Agriculture as a District Soil Conservationist in Nebraska, Arizona, and Washington for 26 years, then at the Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, WA, for nine years. He also worked at Evergreen Financial in Yakima, WA, for several years before retiring in 2008. After retirement he traveled cross-country with Bev in their camper. Their adventures included visiting family and friends in Nebraska, California, Alabama, Montana, Georgia, and Oregon. Ray also volunteered at Peace Lutheran Church in Selah, WA, where he and Bev attended for 34 years. Ray's biggest joy in life was spending time with his grandchildren. Ray's body has been donated to Science Care. His ashes will be laid to rest with Military Honors at the Omaha National Cemetery in Omaha, NE. Services in Selah, WA and Bellevue, NE are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to your local hospice organization.