Raymond Herman Hellofs

Ray was predeceased by his parents, Pete and Betty; sisters-in-law Antoinette Pepin and Bernadette Bonneteau; and his first wife, Rita Hornsby.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Celine of 21 years; stepson Gilles Hirmann (Judy),; his only grandchild Taylor Jane Hirmann,; brothers-in-law Victor Tougas (Freda), Roger Tougas (Thunder Bay), and Isaac Tougas (Bette); many nieces and nephews; two special nephews Bob and Wayne Perkins; sisters-in-law Angele Dufresne, and Louise Hedricken; his two best friends and their wives, Leo Paul and Lorraine; and Gilbert Donaldson and Mary Anne.

Ray was born in Gretna, Manitoba. He lived there until 1934 then moved to Winnipeg with his parents. He started school in Grade 4 at Glenwood School in St. Vital. After attending 3 more schools, he achieved his Grade 12 at Glen Lawn Collegiate. Christmas 1944, at 18 years of age, Ray and his best friend decided to join the Army before they were drafted. After a few weeks they were shipped off to Camp Shilo. One week before being sent overseas, the war was over. They spent about a year at Shilo before getting a discharge in April, 1946.

Ray had 3 or 4 jobs until 1950 which is when he settled down and landed a job with MTS. Ray started in the stores, moved up to the Accounting Department and finally in the Yellow Pages Department. He became a Sales Rep selling advertising for the Yellow Pages for 16 years. In total, Ray was with MTS for 35 years. Ray retired at the age of 60.

Ray had numerous favorite pastimes such as hunting, camping, fishing, golfing, curling, fast ball, snooker and especially travelling. He and Celine visited all the states in USA, all the provinces in Canada, including the Yukon Territories, England, Scotland and Wales and several countries in Europe.

In 1947, Ray joined Manitoba Game & Fish Association, transferred to LaVerendrye Game & Fish in 1956 and in 1971, Ray and his avid outdoorsmen friends form the St. Boniface Wildlife. In 1981 Ray became President of the St. Boniface wildlife for 3 years. In February 2002, Ray received The Jack Dunlop Memorial Conservation Award from The Manitoba Wildlife Association. This was one of Ray’s proudest moments.

In 2014, St. Boniface Wildlife closed for lack of members so Ray rejoined the LaVerendrye Game & Fish. Ray was also a member of other clubs in his life time – St. Vital Curling Club for 45 years; he joined the St. Vital Royal Canadian Legion in 1956 and in 1962 became a member of the Ionic Freemasons Lodge. He maintained these memberships until his passing.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Ray’s memory.

A service will be held at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home when we can all gather to celebrate Ray’s life, date and time will be announced.