I worked with Ray for years, and he was a great friend since childhood. 
We would ride bicycles all over the area around McGregor. The thing about Ray was his tremendous ability to have fun in unconventional ways. Cars and trucks interested him the most. He had a great sense of timing. I remember Ray sitting in front of the Phillips 66 gas station one morning, in his 1956 Ford Victoria. 
Having just recently put on a brand new set of white wall tires, and washed the "Vicky", he was in heaven over this newly purchased rust-free South Dakota ride. He filled the tank with "Ethel" and went inside Boyd's station and paid his bill. We were talking about how sweet a purchase he had made, and Ray said " yeah... and it'll burn those tires right down to the rims any time I want." I said - "... that old boat couldn't make a squeek on dry pavement." Ray, looked at a brand new driveway surface around the gas pumps and did one of those "hold-my-beer" kind of looks as he climbed into his new  favorite car, and began a historic "brake-lock" burnout at the gas pumps. This lasted long enough to create a huge cloud of  thick blue smoke inside and outside the car. But he didn't stop there. He kept revving it up until the entire gas station was blanketed in this pure clean blue - white tire smoke. When he finally let up from the brake pedal, the car lurched, coming out of two deep burn-out holes in the pavement. 
Then, Ray casually pulled the car out onto the highway and very slowly drove west, turning left at the traffic light and headed back into the downtown area, all the while admiring the plume of blue air he'd just created. 
We all stood there watching, amazed at the spectacle that had just taken place. Then, to the surprise of all watching, came a sheriff's patrol car from the East side of town, and clearly was confused by this blue air, drove through it, looking for the source.
It was years later, when Ray told sheriff Passer the story. They laughed about it. I still do.

Gearhart Funeral Home

Ray Fredrickson

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Ray Orvin Fredrickson

17 December, 1957 – 26 October, 2021

Gearhart Funeral Home

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