Virginia May (Hilty) Ray

Virginia May Hilty Ray, loving wife, wonderful mom and adoring grandmother passed away 11/23/2013 at Great Falls Benefis Hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be 11/30/2013 at 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church of Cut Bank. Memorials are recommended to either the First Presbyterian Church or the Wishing Well Project both of Cut Bank.

Virginia was born on May 18, 1934.  She was the second of Lyle and May Hilty’s four children all of whom grew up on her grandfather’s homestead outside of Colfax, Washington. The values she learned in her childhood shaped Virginia all of her life as a family centered, hard-working, strong woman of faith in a loving God.

Virginia didn’t have to look far to find her husband of 61 years. He grew up across the river from her. She married Floyd Ray on July 31, 1952. In the first years of their marriage Floyd and Virginia moved around with the J.C Penney Company living in Coeur d Alene, ID, Missoula, MT, Kalispell, MT, and finally settling in Cut Bank, MT where they have lived for 51 years. It was here that they raised their four children.

Virginia was very active in her church and community. Virginia served as elder and deacon at the First Presbyterian Church. She was active in the Mariners Couple Club, and as their children grew she led the Vacation Bible School, taught Sunday school, and was very active in the United Presbyterian Woman’s Group. She served both nationally and internationally with the United Presbyterian Woman traveling to Portugal late 1990s. She loved her church and was known for the contributions she made there as a leader and cook! She made the best pies!

Within the community Virginia was active as a member on the Wishing Well Project which serves the Northern Rockies Medical Center. They raised monies for hospital improvements.  She was actively involved in the craft fairs, bake sales, community cook-offs and anytime there was an opportunity to bring the people of Cut Bank together to celebrate. She was active in PEO Chapter AW. She was an avid golfer and played in both women’s and mixed league for years.

Virginia worked for 19 years at Stockman Bank (First National Bank) starting as a teller and retiring as a bank officer in 1994. People enjoyed her, choosing to stand in line and wait for her services just to talk and interact with her.

Virginia’s family meant the world to her. She spent hours in the stands watching her children then her grandchildren play baseball, basketball, soccer and football. She taught all of them she could to play Pinochle, can dill pickles, sew and cook! Even her sons! Her most joyous moments were when her family was gathered around her. Her biggest sorrows were moments when they were struggling. Virginia lost her oldest daughter Diane to an accident in 2001. Diane was married to Tim Taves and they had two children, Heather (Taves) Hart, husband Jonathan, and Matthew Taves all of Great Falls, MT; Kathy Ray and Donna Carruth, daughters Mariah and Emma Carray all of Oakland, CA; Doug and Sonja (Bradley) Ray with daughter Josie, sons Jess and Jaxon of Cut Bank, MT; Duane and Gail (Sharkey) Ray and son Dylan of Coeur d Alene, ID. Virginia has one great-grandson Marek Hart with a baby girl to be born in January! Virginia is survived by her loving husband Floyd of Cut Bank.

We will all miss her! Her gentle spirit, gracious manner, and wonderful humor! Enjoy your next adventure mom!