Ray Eldon “Rainbow Ray” Pruter, 87, of Great Bend, Kansas and formerly of Russell, Kansas died Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at his home.

Ray was born December 13, 1926 in Rooks County, south of Natoma, Kansas, the son of Edwin and Clara (Massengale) Pruter.  He grew up and attended school in Natoma.  At the end of his junior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He service from 1945 thru 1946 at Ft. Hood, Texas.  After his tour, he returned to the Natoma area.

Ray was united in marriage to Norva Weldon on September 28, 1951 in Natoma, Kansas.  This union was blessed with three children; JoDell, Dale and Kenny.  They made their home in Natoma until 1959 when they moved to Hays, Kansas.  They later moved to Russell in 1969 and resided there until 2012 when they moved to Great Bend.

Ray worked in the oil fields around Natoma before taking a job in Hays with Bond Bread Company.  He worked there for ten years before moving to Russell.  He worked for the Rainbow Bread Company until his retirement in 1987.

Ray attended the Church of God in Natoma, Otterbein Methodist Church in Russell, and later attended the Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend.  He also was a member of the Russell American Legion Post #99.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and doing wood working crafts.

Surviving family include his wife of 62 years, Norva of the home; daughter, JoDell Glick and companion Terry Bradley of Pittsburg, Kansas; sons, Dale E. Pruter (Sherry) and Kenny Pruter (Patty) all of Great Bend, Kansas; four grandchildren, Tarena, Trent, Luke and Audra; and five great grandchildren, Levi, Taylor, Sophia, Sydnee and Kaiden.  He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Stella Doty; and brothers Otto Pruter, Marcel Pruter and two infant brothers.

Celebration of Ray’s Life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell.  Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas where the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240 Honor Guard will conduct Military Rites.  Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday at the mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  A Memorial has been established with Great Bend Church of the Nazarene Building fund.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary who is in charge of these arrangements.