With pride, St. Katharine Drexel Parish honors our diamond jubilee couple, Ray and Dolores (Dode) Bunkers, married September 28, 1946. Their family includes Bob and Pam Lillibridge, Tom and Donna Bunkers, Jimmy and Julie Franken, Robert and Signe Espinoza, Dan and Lara Bunkers, Paul and Lori Bunkers, 17 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Paul, Lori and sons Nick and Luke, are also members of St. Katharine Drexel Parish.
Ray is originally from Colman, SD. His mother died December 2, 1930 when Ray was only 9 years old. He entered the Army 147th Field Artillery in 1940 and spent 34 months, 11 days during the 2nd World War in the South Pacific Islands. After the war ended, he attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls and met his younger bride-to-be, Dode Lendt Granite, IA. They were married at “Presentation Children’s Home” in Sioux Falls by Fr. Wilfred Schultz. Because Dode was not Catholic at the time, they could not be married in the Catholic Church. Dode took instructions in Canton from Fr. Regan and joined our faith in 1953.
Ray and Dode lived in Chicago where Ray attended Chicago Optometry School graduating in Septemer, 1948. They then moving to Canton, SD where Ray practiced Optometry for 40 years and raised their 3 sons and 3 daughters. Ray retired in 1987. Ray and Dode moved to Sioux Falls in May, 2004.
Greet them! You’ll soon discover their humor and abundant love for God, family and friends. They have a noticeable respect for each.
Quotes from family:
- “A zealous devotion to God, church and daily prayer, including rosary”
- “A beautiful gift of listening and wonderful empathetic hearts”
- “Always true to their word”
- “I know the Lord has blessed us children with wonderful parents”
- “Sure proud to have them as my Mom and Dad”
