Robert Pray, Sr.

Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Pray, Sr., 96, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 21st at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.  Father Tom Hartman will officiate.  Services will be broadcast live on GDILIVE.COM and will also be broadcast on GDIRADIO at 89.3 FM, available within 1 mile of Groton.  Burial with military honors will follow in Union Cemetery, Groton under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 5-7 p.m. with a wake service at 7:00 p.m.  Masks will be available for Covid-19.

Bob passed away November 17, 2020 at Avera St. Lukes Hospital, Aberdeen, surrounded by his children.

Robert Charles Pray, Sr. was born on July 19, 1924 to Charles and Emma (Kranhold) Pray in Henry Township.  He grew up and attended rural school in Henry Township and graduated from Groton High School in 1942.  Bob volunteered in the US Navy in 1944 and served two years as an S1/c Aviation Machinist Mate and Combat Air Crewman.  After his honorable discharge in 1946, he returned home and married Ruth Kienast of Aberdeen on December 16, 1946.  Bob has farmed and lived all his life in Henry and Putney Township, before moving into Groton in 1995.  He served as ASC county committee man and as Putney Township supervisor.  Bob was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Groton, a Groton American Legion member, Veterans of Foreign Wars and a long time member of Moose Lodge 590 in Aberdeen.  Bob and Ruth would have been married for 74 years on December 16th.

Celebrating his life is his wife, Ruth, three children, Robert, Jr. (Laurie) Pray of Groton, Jeanette (Dave) Radcliffe of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Jill (Ronald) Krueger of Groton, 9 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, two brothers and one grandchild.

Honorary pallbearers will be all of Bob’s grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Troy Janisch, Todd Janisch, Jeremy Krueger, Bryce Krueger, Chad Pray, Charlie Pray, Trevor Pray and Lane Krueger.

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