Ray Dale Zinke
Ray Dale Zinke died Aug. 29, 2004, as a result of a tragic aircraft accident in Kalispell.
Ray was born Oct. 16, 1940, to Oswald "Ole" and Earleen Zinke in Glendive. He was the second of four children who all attended the Whitefish school system.
After graduating from high school in 1958, Ray attended and graduated from Montana State University and began a lifetime career in the construction business. He worked for a number of local firms such as Pack, Hamilton, and American Asphalt companies before earning a master plumber credential as his father had done before him.
In 1988, he married the former Patricia McLarty of Toronto, Canada, and soon after became the co-owner of Precision Plumbing and Heating Contractors.
Ray was renowned throughout the Flathead Valley for his hard work ethic and his loyal devotion to his family and friends. He was an avid horseman and could often be seen providing wagon rides from his team of Belgian Horses along Lower Valley Road. He loved hunting, farming, and starting the day before dawn.
His most recent passion was restoring and flying his Beachcraft Bonanza airplane. Ray died as a passenger of his aircraft while most likely attempting an emergency landing as a result of a catastrophic engine failure.
He was a strong Christian who believed in traditional values.
Ray is survived by his wife and eight children, Justin and Sharon Zinke of Calgary, Alberta, Ryan and Lolita Zinke and Jamie and Dennis Dial, all of San Diego, Calif., Tracy and A.J. King, Randan and Jessica Zinke, Ara and Brent Jorgenson and Dahra and Demi Zinke, all of Kalispell. He has 11 grandchildren, Lauren, Natasha, Jennifer, Wolfgang, Konrad, Issac, Taryn, Tevin, Anne Jo, Kieran and Alaina. He is also survived by his mother, father and siblings, Greta Hale and Shirley Jo Silliker of Whitefish, and David Zinke of Missoula.
A graveside service was held Sept. 4, at the Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell, followed by memorial services at Calvary Lutheran Church in Kalispell, with reception after.
The family asks for donations in lieu of flowers to be given to the Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.