Raymond 'Ray' L. Van Patten

Hastings resident, Raymond Ray VanPatten, 88 passed away Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society, Hastings-Village. Services will be Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10:30 am at the First Christian Church with Rev. Dr. James Gordon officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 9 am to 9 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE with the family present from 6 pm to 8 pm. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE with military rites by Hastings military organizations. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church, the Golden Friendship Senior Center, the Boy Scout Troop 192 or the Hastings Masonic Temple all in Hastings, NE. He was born on February 5, 1924 in Sutton, Nebraska. His parents were Raymond I. Van Patten and Molly Heckman Van Patten. As a young man he delivered newspapers and worked for the railroad. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1943 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Fiji Islands, Central Burma, and India in the 18th General Hospital as a Laboratory Technician. He received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and two Bronze Stars. After leaving the service in February 1946, he returned home, working in automotive repair business. He ran Van Patten's Auto Repair Shop for many years and later worked at Industrial Irrigation. He married Betty Ann Van Trump on April 2, 1951. He met Betty at a relative's house. They both enjoyed dancing, playing cards with friends, camping, and their families. Ray and Betty had three children, two sons, Bryon and David, and a daughter who died at birth. He and his wife Betty were a long time members of the Hastings First Christian Church. Ray served as an Elder, Board Chairman and Sunday School Teacher. Ray and Betty enjoyed spending time with their friends and the fellowship of the church. They both enjoyed preparing meals for Church dinners and contributing to the Church cookbook Ray was active in the Boy Scouts for over 60 years, first as a Scout, then an Assistant Scout Master and Scout Master of Troop 192. He enjoyed camping with the scouts in all kinds of weather and teaching young men how to cook outdoors and to fish. He especially loved camping in the winter. He had the assistance of many of the scout's fathers over the years in helping over 57 young men achieve the Eagle Scout Award, He was a member of the Order of the Arrow, National Brotherhood of Scout Campers and he received several awards including the District Award of Merit in 1993, Silver Beaver Award in 1969, Everyday Hero Award in 2002, and a Certificate of Merit in 2002. He was a member of Hastings Masonic Lodge #50 for over 50 years where he served in several chairs including Master. He made a number of lifelong friends at the Lodge He enjoyed the weekly lunches and other Masonic Activities which including preparing meals. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, and the Tehama Temple Shrine. He was a member of the Tehama Mobile Clowns. After retiring he taught himself the dulcimer and harmonica. He enjoyed setting up meals at the Golden Friendship Senior Center and visiting with friends. He also enjoyed giving talks on local history and playing in the "Moonshiners" band at the Center. He was a member of the Dulcimer Club, United Commercial Travelers, various camping clubs, and the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #1995, He received an Admiralship in the Nebraska Navy, the Outstanding Service to Mankind Award presented by Sertoma in 1989, the Outstanding Older Adult for the State of Nebraska on May 25, 1999, the Bill Sole Community Service Award, and the Outstanding Citizen Award for his volunteer efforts in 2002. Later in his retirement years he spent his summers gardening and bringing produce into the Senior Center, trying new recipes and old ones from his youth going down to Crystal Lake with his family. He also enjoyed hunting for "Diamond Willows" and making walking sticks. He spent many happy hours later in life on the swing on his front porch with his Black Lab, Abbey. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, his sisters, Hazel Pappas, Goldie Fassett, and Eileen Wagner, He is survived by his Sons, Byron and David, their wives Joyce and Gayle, grandson Brian Farrar, his wife Shelly, two great grand children Brayden and Brittney. His nephew, Jackie Wagner and his wife Sue, their children, many other family members, and a number of good friends.