Ray Koster, 79, of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2022.

Ray was born July 27, 1942, to George and Marie (Carouthers) Koster, in Concordia, Kansas. He was raised on the family farm in Miltonvale, KS. After graduating college, Ray made his way to South Dakota.

There he married his first wife, Betty. The had two sons, Clint, and Chris.

Ray would marry a second time to MaryLin. With this marriage he gained a bonus daughter Kim. Ray and MaryLin also had a son together, Karl.

Ray would marry one final time to the love of his life, Judy. With this marriage he gained two stepdaughters, Valerie, and Susan.

Ray made his living driving truck. He loved the open road. His love for trucks and the road led him to lease on with East West Motor Express. This would become his home. He loved it there. This is where he built up his fleet of trucks known as Koster Trucking. After getting such a fleet, Ray decided to get off the road and tend to his business and taking care of his trucks and drivers. (He had some impressive drivers, that he considered family).

Ray was also an avid gun owner. He was a member of the NRA and liked to practice his second amendment rights. Therefore, when Ray retired from trucking, he went to work part-time for Cabela's. Guess where? The gun department.

The thing I remember most about Ray is that he did everything "Wide Open." If he was going to start something it was full throttle ahead. This is also why Ray tended to be accident prone. Ray was fun to have around and harass. He tried to come off as a grumpy man. That never really worked. Ha-ha. He will be missed.

Have fun driving that Big Rig in the sky!!

Ray was proceeded in death by both parents, George and Marie; two brothers, Rex and Ralph; his wife, Judy; his son, Clint; and grandson, Tyler.

Ray is survived by two sons, Chris, and Karl; three daughters, Kim (Robert) Corey, Valerie (John) Curtis, and Susan (Ron) Grubl; granddaughters, Brianna, Jordyn, Kylie, Samantha, and Veronica; grandsons, Caleb, Collin, Zac, Jared, and Shane; great granddaughters, Melonie and Emma; and great grandson, Elijah.