Dr. Paul D. Ray

Paul D. Ray, age 79, of Grand Forks, ND, was born December 7, 1934, in Monmouth, IL, the son of Elmer and Dorothy Ray. Dr. Ray died on July 15, 2014, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, after a brief battle with cancer. Paul grew up on the family farm south of Monmouth, IL. He graduated from Monmouth High School in 1952 and Monmouth College in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. He married Annette Thrift in Chicago, IL. June 15, 1957. Paul completed his PH.D. of Biochemistry at St. Louis University, in St. Louis, MO, in 1962 under the direction of the Nobel Prize winner, Edward Doisy. He completed postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Henry Lardy and held an assistant professorship at the Enzyme Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI from 1962-1967. In 1967, Paul and Annette moved to Grand Forks, ND, where Paul began his 47-year career at the University of North Dakota in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Paul directed and advised a number of graduate students to their M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. He was widely published for his research focusing on liver enzymes as they relate to diabetes and the influence of hormones on carbohydrate metabolism. To support his research, he received funding from The American Heart Association, The National Institutes of Health, The American Diabetes Association, and the National Science Association. He was extremely proud of his involvement in INMED (American Indians in Medicine Program), and enjoyed his involvement as a recruiter of student athletes interested in the basic sciences. Paul received a multitude of honors. He received the Sigma Xi award for individual excellence in research in 1984 and a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorship in 1992. Following his retirement in 1997, he was named Professor Emeritus. He continued to teach until March of 2014 by facilitating small groups of medical students as they studied medical cases in a problem solving approach. Paul followed all his grandchildrens' activities, and was an avid sports fan. He was a die-hard supporter of the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears, as well as the Fighting Sioux. Paul was a charter member of the Fighting Sioux Club (now the Champions Club) and he was a longtime season ticket holder of basketball, hockey and football. Paul loved animals. He had welcomed his fourth Golden Retriever into his life in December and she brought him great joy. His 22- year old cat was always a welcome addition to Paul's lap. Paul spent a great deal of time at his lake home near Perham, MN where he enjoyed relaxing, fishing, bird watching and visiting with dear friends. In later years, Paul and Annette looked forward to nearly annual trips to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the fall where they enjoyed the fall foliage, visiting and photographing many lighthouses. Music was a passion for Paul and he was especially fond of Frank Sinatra and Lori Line music. He sang solos as a young child and continued singing in Zion United Methodist Church Choir since 1967. He was also a longtime supporter of local youth performing arts programs. Paul is survived by his wife, Annette, of 57 years, and his four children: Debra (Larry) Larsen of Watford City, ND; Kenneth (Linda) Ray of East Grand Forks, MN; Michael (Sarah) Ray of Appleton, WI; and Linda (Michael) Greene of Flower Mound, TX. He leaves eleven grandchildren: Carissa (Ross) Pape, Michelle (Jayme) Carson, Jason (Elizabeth) Ray, Jenna (Sheldon) Wahlstrom, Danica Ray, (fiancé of Matt Konze), Christopher Larsen, Hannah Ray, Madison Greene, Sean Larsen, Logan Greene, and Andrew Ray. He also leaves three great-granddaughters: Reagan and Ramsey Pape and Zoe Carson and two sisters: Betty Rodgers and Joan Haase. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Elmer Ray, his oldest sister Marilyn Algren, and his three brothers-in-law: Eugene Rodgers, Marvin Haase, and Glenn Algren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Paul Ray Memorial Fund. Alerus Financial P.O. Box 6001 Grand Forks, ND 58206 Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2014 in Zion United Methodist Church, 1001 24th Ave South, Grand Forks. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Private interment will be in South Bethany Cemetery.