RAYMOND ?RAY? FRANK SLATER, age 87, of Worthington, died Saturday, September 26, 2009, at his home. He was born April 21, 1922, on the family farm south of Wilmont. Ray was the first child of Henry and Magdalena (Balster) Slater. He attended school at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School in Wilmont. Ray worked on the family farm until enlisting in the United States Navy in 1942. He attended Naval training in Chicago, IL, for one year and was deployed to the South Pacific serving his country until the end of WWII. Ray was honorably discharged on January 1, 1946 and returned home to work on the family farm. Ray was united in marriage to Nelma Catherine Bruns on March 30, 1948, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian. After their marriage, the couple moved to Iona where they farmed until 1962 when they moved to Worthington. Ray worked at Fleetwood Homes until 1983. Ray & Nelma moved from the family home in Worthington to Sunshine Apartments in 1992. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, in Worthington, for over fifty years; the Catholic Order of Foresters for over seventy years; and the Worthington Men?s Club. He enjoyed reading, gardening & woodworking. Ray is survived by his loving wife of sixty one years, Nelma Slater, Worthington; daughter, Cindy (Larry) Miller, Moville, IA, (and grandsons, Chris & Adam); daughter, Susan (Rex) Buxton, Eden Prairie, (and granddaughters, Abigail & Madeline); son, Randy Slater, St. Cloud; brother, Jim (Mary) Slater, Worthington; two sisters, Esther Becker, Mesa, AZ; and Arlene (Lyle) Schlicte, Worthington; brother-in-law, Don Schutz, Adrian; and a sister-in-law, Del Slater, Inver Grove Heights. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry & Magdelena Slater; step mother, Gen Slater; two sisters, Marie Schutz & Joan Slater; and a brother, Tom Slater. A time of fellowship will be from 5-7 pm Monday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington; and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Memorial service will be 1 PM Tuesday at St. Mary Catholic Church, in Worthington, officiated by Fr. Larry Brixius. Burial with full military honors will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, in Minneapolis, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Sanford Hospice of Worthington.