Leland “Ray” Langham, 68, of Aurora, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls after a lengthy battle with multiple health problems. 

Memorial services are at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings. Visitation is from noon until the time of the service. Interment of Ray’s ashes will be at a later date in Meredith Campground Cemetery  in Walton, Texas.

Ray was born in Graham, Texas. His family moved to many locations while his father worked in the oil fields, Merchant Marines, and other vocations before settling in Richardson, Texas.  Ray attended high school in Richardson, Texas. Later, he graduated from the University of Plano with a bachelor’s degree in biology and East Texas State University (Texas A&M at Commerce) with a master’s degree in zoology. Ray moved to South Dakota in 1991.

Ray was most recently employed by the SDSU Chemistry Department as a chemical storekeeper where he made the solutions utilized in teaching chemistry labs and managed the stockroom. Prior to this, he was employed as a research technician for the SDSU Plant Science Department, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas. Additionally, Ray had worked as a pulmonary technician or as an orderly for Baylor, Presbyterian, and other hospitals in northeast Texas.

Ray continued to have his twinkling blue eyes, his mischievous smile, his unique sense of humor and his fierce independence throughout his trials. Only two nights before his death, he spent the evening teaching songs by Meatloaf to his nurses who were too young to know who Meatloaf is.

Ray is much beloved by his family who requests that you honor his memory with an act of kindness for those who continue life’s daily struggles. 

Ray is survived by his wife, Marie A. C. Langham  of Aurora; his brother-in-law, Larry W. Carmichael  of Walton, Texas; two nieces; four great nephews; one great niece;  and two cousins, Paul Stebens and David E. Williams (Texas).   

Ray was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Colleen Haddock; his father, Edwin S. Langham; his brother, Philip T. Langham; his step father, J. Leon Haddock; his grandparents, Henry E. and Evelyn Moore; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, A. D. and Marie Carmichael.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.