Raymond Jentry Thompson, born Feb. 2, 1925, passed away on Aug. 15, 2012. He was born in Okanogan at the family home on Salmon Creek. He grew up in Okanogan, along with nine brothers and sisters. After finishing the 8th grade, he worked various jobs including working on the family dairy. In 1949, he went to work for the Okanogan Creamery and became the milk man. He worked there until they closed, which was in 1980.
          He then retired for a while. He went to work for the Stampede Association and worked for two years, then went to work for the Omak School District, working there for about three years. In between all his jobs, he would cut and sell wood and props.
          On June 11, 1948 he married Shirley Mae Jones. They have lived in the Okanogan area, living on Elmway for 56 years. They took in seven foster children during that time. There were times when they would load up the seven, along with their four children, and go on vacation. The kids always loved those vacations.
          Ray was a well loved man, who never knew a stranger. He loved to fish, hunt, camp, spend time with family, and talk to anyone or everyone. People will always remember the “Milk Man” and what a wonderful, caring, giving and strong man he was.
          He was preceded in death by his parents, George D. and Flora Thompson; brother, Walter; sisters, Frances, Carol and Margaret; son, Kenneth; and son-in-law, Lance.
          He is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Richard Thompson, Linda (Alan) King, and Shari Ward; grandchildren, Raymond (Heather) Thompson, Jay Thompson, Richard Thompson II, Brianna (Ben) Navarro, Troy (Rene) King, Charles King, Traci (Gary) Miller, Jaclyn (Beau) Sanders, and Scott (Lindsey) Ward; ten great-grandchildren; brothers, George D. (Marj) and Mark (Elizabeth); sisters, Lillian (Dick) Rogers, Geraldine McLean and Mary Harrington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
          Services for Raymond will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the First Baptist Church in Okanogan, 327 Rose Street, at 1 p.m. Anyone wishing to make donations may make them to the American Cancer Society or the Children’s Hospital in Spokane.