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Raymond Fitzgerald Ness, age 79 of Ogallala, passed away on Sunday evening, May 4, 2008 at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Cancer Pavilion Center in Denver, Colorado.

He was born December 21, 1928 in Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada the son of Guy and Ruby (Witby) Ness. The family moved to the United States and settled area northeast of Big Springs, Nebraska after Guy’s visit to the consulate in Regina, Canada in 1929 regarding naturalization and immigration papers.

Ray attended Day Town School and graduated from the Big Springs High School in 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was recruited into the Air Force in 1946. He served with the 8^th Photo Recon Unit in Japan following World War II. After his discharge from the military he returned to help on the Ness family farm which was now located near Imperial, Nebraska. Ray married Carol Janice West in Ogallala on May 27, 1955.

Ray was employed by United Airlines in San Francisco and then for his father in law, Gordon West, in Ogallala as a brick layer. In 1963, Ray started his own company, Ness Construction which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2002. His company built the Ogallala Softball Complex, Ogallala Bike Path, Kildare Lumber Company building, two large hangers at the Ogallala Airport and the Titan Industries building in Paxton as well many other smaller personal jobs. He served on the District #2 School Board and the Airport Advisory Board. Ray was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Ogallala Moose Lodge, the Ogallala Elks Lodge and the V.F.W. He had a passion for planes and flying and enjoyed both at every opportunity.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; his son, Scott; his parents, Guy and Ruby Ness; and his sister, Joan Grimes.

He is survived by his daughter, Beth Ness and John Stulich of Ogallala; three grandchildren, Jennifer Kay (Ness) Shuler, Ryan Dale Ness and Keith Scott Ness. One great-grandson, Cameron Scott Brown and a brother in law, Eldon Grimes of Greeley, CO.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Ogallala United Methodist Church with Pastor James Miller officiating. Interment services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Ash Hollow Cemetery near Lewellen with military honors rendered by the Keith County Veteran’s Organizations.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 8^th at the Gubser Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com. A memorial has been established in his memory.

Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.