Raymond Bokker

Funeral services for Raymond Bokker, of Dixon, SD, were held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating. Music was provided by the congregation, accompanied by Lisa Odenbach. Gerrie Soper, Machelle Seeley, Blair Sedlacek, and Cheryl Sperl were in charge of registration. Bernice Klein, Mary Wilson and Mary Kay Drees were flower attendants. Casket bearers were John Bokker, Wayne Kingsbury, Al Fast, Marshall Springer, Dan Hiles, Rock Reman, Barry Routh, and Dillon Springer. Honorary casket bearer were Tim Walker, Terry Springer, Wayne Springer, Bill Sinkular, Roger Steffen, Craig Audiss, Cal Messick, Don Soper, Dale Soper, and Dennis Knittel.

Interment was in the Dixon Cemetery in Dixon, SD, with military honors conferred by Gregory American Legion. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Raymond Eugene Bokker was born in Garretson, SD, on June 2, 1946. He was the first born of Vernon and Elaine Bokker. Sisters Roberta (Bokker) Geraets, and Sharon (Bokker) Chontos joined the family.

Ray grew up in Dell Rapids, SD, on the farm and graduated from Dell Rapids High School in 1964.

Ray attended USD College in Vermillion, SD, and then attended Black Hills State College in Spearfish, SD in 1970, graduating with a teaching degree. While there, he met Marlys Maxine Muffat, and the two were married on May 24, 1970.

Ray was in the National Guards and served both at Sturgis and Winner, SD, from February 1967 to May 1974.

Ray and Marlys moved to Winner and taught school. The couple added two children to their family, Sara Rae Bokker, and three years later, John Will Bokker.

Ray and Marlys purchased the North Star Saloon in 1973. The North Star was the staple of the community for many years, and many friendships flourished there. They ran the North Star for 41 years until it burned down in May of 2014. Ray and Marlys were members of the SD Liquor Association, and in 2012 the North Star Saloon was named Business of the Year by the SD Liquor Association.

Ray also taught at Sinte Gleska College as an English professor. Ray loved his family very much. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, repairing guns, cross country skiing, and riding his bike. He was a gunsmith and made many different types of firearms.

He had a strong faith and was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory, SD.

He was also the treasurer of the Dixon Township Board for 50 years, and treasurer of A.B.A.T.E. He enjoyed reading, and would share books with friends. He was also a writer and had an article published in Fur Fish & Game magazine.

Ray was a legend. He passed away on November 28, 2023, at his home near Dixon, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Elaine Bokker. Ray is survived by his wife Marlys; his children: Sara Bokker of California, John (Jodi) Bokker of Spearfish, SD, and Michael (Penelope) Pfuntner of Nashville, TN; seven grand-children; three great-grand-children; two sisters Sharon Chontos, and Roberta Geraets, both of Sioux Falls, SD; two nieces, three nephews, many cousins and so many friends.