Raymond "Ray" Koby

Raymond “Ray” Koby died on December 15, 2021, at Renaissance Senior Care in Helena, Montana. Ray was born November 26, 1924, in Superior, Wisconsin to Raymond Koby and Mary Jane (Haslip) Koby. He attended schools in Superior and graduated in 1942 at the age of 17. During the summer, he served as a deckhand on an ore boat moving iron ore from Superior and Duluth, Minnesota to Cleveland and Detroit. In the fall of 1942, he enrolled at Superior State Teachers’ College. When he turned 18, he joined the Army Air Corps and was assigned to active duty in 1943. He received basic training at Shepard Field, Texas after which he was assigned to college training in Nashville, Tennessee. Following ground school training at Maxwell Field, Alabama, he received flying training in Orenburg, South Carolina, and twin-engine flight training in Moody Field, Georgia. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his pilot wings in 1944. In 1945 he was sent to New Guinea, where he flew C-47 and C-48 aircraft, delivering cargo and personnel to Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Okinawa, and China for 13 months. After discharge from the Air Corps, he enrolled at the University of Montana. In 1946, he came to Helena, Montana to meet Jean Berg, whom he had met at a YMCA summer camp in 1936. After camp, they kept in touch occasionally and this visit was the first time they had met since the camp. He married Jean in Helena in 1946 and they were blessed with two daughters, Candy in 1949 and Marsha in 1952. In 1947, he enrolled in the University of Montana law school, graduating in 1949. Ray was licensed to practice law in September of that year. In December 1949, Ray began practicing law in Great Falls, associating with O. B. Kotz. In 1953 he associated with the Swanberg law firm, becoming a partner and serving with that firm and successive firms until his retirement in 1994. He served as deputy Cascade County attorney from 1951 until 1953 and Great Falls city attorney from1953 until 1955. During his legal career, he served as Cascade County Bar Association president in 1965 and as a trustee on the State Bar of Montana Board from 1982 until 1992. Ray’s hobbies included hunting, jogging, and playing tennis. Arthritis precluded hunting and jogging in 1979, but he was able to play tennis into his 70s. Ray had acting and musical talent for which he was selected for lead parts in Great Falls musicals from New York and performed at the Great Falls Civic Center. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Great Falls; Great Falls Elks Lodge No. 214; Great Falls Euclid Lodge No.58; a 33rd. degree mason in Great Falls Scottish Rite; and belonged to Algeria Shrine Temple; Sons of Pioneers; and Big Sky Chapter of Daedalians who supported his love for flying and they were truly his best buddies. Ray is survived by his daughters, Marsha Koby South of Helena, and Candy Koby of Great Falls; grandchildren, Earl Hiett and Sara Rae; and Ray’s great-grandchildren, Mariah, Sarina, and Mikenzie, all of whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; and his sisters, Jane Koby of Superior, Wisconsin, and Lois Bateman of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Ray was a loving husband, father, and grandpa who always put his family first. His legacy is best remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor, whistling to the post office daily and singing songs on his way. He was also known for wearing colorful bow ties, which he preferred over the standard ones. He was a huge part of his family. Thanks, Dad for driving us to “Koby’s Hideaway” you discovered for our family picnics and for driving us to see the beautiful Christmas lights in Black Eagle so Santa could arrive when we returned! You are our hero! A funeral will be held at a later date.