Raymond Oliver Nord-strom of Montrose died Thursday, April 19, 2012, at Montrose Rehabilitation Center at Valley Manor Care Center. He was 92.
Mr. Nordstrom was born Aug. 9, 1919, in Chicago, Ill., to Nels and Esther Nordstrom.
He married Patricia (Pat) McChesney on March 5, 1942. They celebrated 62 years of marriage. She preceded him in death in 2003.
During World War II, Mr. Nordstrom served in the Army Air Corps at Williams Air Base in Arizona, where he trained dogs to guard airplanes. He participated in the Veterans Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2010.
He lived in Chicago for a short time before moving to Colorado Springs in 1947. He worked for El Paso County Health Department for over 30 years. He taught dog obedience classes, groomed dogs and was an obedience judge for the American Kennel Club. He enjoyed auctions and estate sales in Colorado Spring and became a collector of many things, especially railroad and model railroading items, Indian lore and war memorabilia.
Mr. Nordstrom enjoyed fishing and exploring Colorado by jeep with his family. After retirement he moved to Cedaredge where he lived for nearly 19 years before moving to Montrose in 1999. He attended senior meals at the Montrose Pavilion. After his wife's death he became a volunteer in the kitchen for several years. He was a member of Gideon's International, providing Bibles to people and working in the ministry to prisoners. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose.
He is survived by a son and his wife, Kenneth and Betsy Nordstrom of Cedaredge; three daughters and their husbands, Jeanne and Robert Motley, Nancy and Dan Lamar, all of Montrose, and Chris and Phil Wilson of Van, Texas; eight grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.
Mr. Nordstrom was preceded in death by his wife and four brothers.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 25, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Montrose. A family graveside service will follow at Cedaredge Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Gideon's International, 50 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, or the charity of the donor's choice.
Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory in Montrose is handling the arrangements.
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