Raymond George Tininenko

Raymond George Tininenko, was born Nov. 15, 1937, in Wolf Point, Mont., to George and Julia Tininenko. He died Nov. 2, 2014, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

Ray worked at George Young Construction in Des Moines, Jacobsen Construction and Zapara Construction in Williston, N.D., and was a lifelong farmer and rancher northeast of Bainville, Mont. He attended school at Sheyenne River Academy, Harvey, N.D., and Union College in Lincoln, Neb. Ray had many loves in his life. He loved his Montana land and he knew each hill and rock on all 1,400 acres. He commuted 1,000 miles each way from his house in Iowa to his land in Montana to be able to take care of both farms. He loved country music and he and Barb could be expected to be in attendance at every country music show in the surrounding counties. Perhaps his greatest love was his six grandchildren. He was proud of them all and was thrilled to brag to anyone about their accomplishments. Ray was a loyal and responsible son. He took care of the family farm and toiled on the vast rocky land since the age of eight years old. He dutifully visited his parents in the nursing home for years, and moved to Iowa to care for his father-in-law when he needed help. Ray was also a closet musician who was accomplished on the harmonica, guitar and organ.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Ann Tininenko of Kellogg. They were married at the United Methodist Church in Kellogg, Aug. 28, 1960, after meeting on a blind date in Des Moines. They made their home in Williston, N.D., where they lived for 40 years.

Children are Brent Tininenko and his wife, Mary of Bentonville, Ark., and Roxane Sipe and her husband Steve, of Rosemount, Minn. Grandchildren are Cole Tininenko of Little Rock, Ark., Lauren Tininenko of Albuquerque, N.M., Alexa Tininenko of Shawnee, Okla., Jordan Sipe of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jared Sipe, and Meredith Sipe, both of Minneapolis, Minn. Siblings are brother, David Tininenko and his wife, Nola Beth of Mesa, Ariz.; sisters Mary White and her husband, Tom, of Williston, N.D., and Marti Edwards and her husband, Jim of Antioch, Calif.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service and again after the service with a coffee time at the funeral home. His ashes will be spread at the Kellogg and Bainville, Mont., farms at a later date.

Memorials may be designated to Kellogg Fire and Ambulance or MDS (Myelodysplastic syndrome, National Marrow Donor Programs) Research or a memorial of the donor’s choice.