Raymond Theodore Roller

Please click here to watch Ray's service.

Raymond “Ray” Theodore Roller, 89, was called home to his Heavenly Father on May 15, 2025, surrounded by loving family at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks, ND after a long battle with dementia.

Ray was born on December 19, 1935, in Belfield, North Dakota, the first son of Philomena (Armbrust) Roller and Anton Roller. He was raised on the family farm near Hope, ND. However suffering with severe allergies, Ray decided to attend college at Wahpeton State School of Science.

Graduating with an electrical technician degree, Ray was proud to be a “phone man” and began his career with Northwestern Bell in Grand Forks, ND first as a pole man and over the next 37 years retired as a resident technician at the downtown main office and at UND campus.

While attending NDSSS, Ray met the love of his life, Yvonne Marie Ackerman who also was a student on campus. She called him, the black-haired handsome man she adored. They married June 3, 1957, in Grand Forks. Ray was a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of all his children. Many times, was said, “Grandpa can fix anything!” and that was the absolute truth.

Ray and Yvonne spent many years following retirement wintering in Mesa, Arizona. There they met and have added to their many close friends. Ray had a very strong musical talent, he could pick up a guitar and play it, keyboards came naturally to him, but his all-time favorite was the accordion. No jam or barn dance was without Ray up there on stage twinkling the keyboard and his eyes with excitement watching couples dance and laugh.

Ray is survived by the love of his life and constant companion, Yvonne of 68 years, Grand Forks; children, Renae (Paul) Strom, Maple Grove, MN, and Wayne (Lisa) Roller, Stillwater, MN; grandchildren, Michael Strom, Brittney (Brian) Andreen, Jessica (Tim) Nelson, and Steven Roller; great-grandchildren, Kailey Jackson, Carter Andreen, Cruz Andreen, Logan Nelson, and Hallie Nelson; siblings Viola Miller and Norman (Nancy) Roller; bother-in-law, Richard Ackerman, sisters-in-law, Leona Borgen and Cathy Roller, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his beautiful infant daughter, Laurie Kay; parents, Anton and Philomena Roller; siblings, Barbara and (Daniel) Mitzel, Donald (MaryLou) Roller, Victor Miller and Ernie Roller; in-laws, Ferdinand and Rosella Ackerman, and Joe Borgen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to an Alzheimer’s charity of your choice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND. Visitation will be held from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. Monday, May 19, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Grand Forks, ND with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Interment will be held at Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.