Wanda Mae Raye, 65, Rapid City, died Saturday, April 30, 2011, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, May 6, 2011, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help with Father Tyler Dennis officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Wanda was born February 13, 1946, in Rapid City, SD, to Kenneth and Delores (McDonald) Douglas. She completed her education in Rapid City. She met William Raye and they were married December 23, 1962, in Rapid City. They lived in Lockbourne, OH, Okinawa, Ellsworth, Germany, France, and the Netherlands returning to Rapid City where they raised their family.

Wanda was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was known to love pigs, frogs, turtles, chickens and a deep admiration of Betty Boop.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Raye, Rapid City; four sons, Sam Raye, Anchorage, AK, Jason Raye, Rapid City, John Raye, Fairfax, VA, and Michael (Krista) Raye, Rapid City; one daughter, Rebecca Raye (Drew Beach), Rapid City; one sister, JoAnn (Tom) Bennington, Rapid City; eleven grandchildren: Suzanne, Amanda, Joshua, David, Jessica, Kiara Lynn, Makai Lynn, Dai-Ana, Jaxon, Kylie Anne and Sawyer; and one great-grandchild - Ivan. Numerous nieces and nephews which are all truly loved by our wonderful mother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Delores and two sisters, Bonnie Horton and Dixie George.

Our mother was a person who accepted everyone for who they were and not judging them. She was and will remain in our hearts, loved and deeply missed. She was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day and always available for a warm hug. She was not only our mother but our friend and we will take this last lesson she taught us, that all family and friends must be kept close to the heart. Our mother passed away while trying to get her heart fixed and we believe she gave so much of her heart to everyone else that she forgot to save some for herself.

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