Bernardina Ray

Bernardina “Tineke” Ray, age 87, of Surprise, Arizona passed away on Friday, October 9, 2026 at 5:55 am. She is survived by her daughter, Tine of Peoria, son Michael (Lisa) of Peoria, son James (Tammy) of Sandpoint, Idaho; grandchildren Chasity (Treavor), Brent, Brandi, Tristyn (Jorge), Kyle; great-grandchildren Carley, Bradley, Joey, William, Emily, Luna; and sister Carolien Exall of Haywards Heath, England.

Tineke was born July 30, 1939 in Bloemendaal, Netherlands (Holland), one month before the start of World War II. Her father, Victor Roos, was a fabric merchant during the war while her mother, Bernardina (Dönszelmann), cared for Tineke and her siblings - Victor, Mies, Jan Joost and Carolien. After the war, Victor was a chicken farmer and the family eventually settled at “de Rozenhof” (the Roos house) in Wierden, Holland. Tineke attended high school in Holland, then MULO, Dutch secondary education. At eighteen, she left home for England to be a nanny. Some of her favorite memories were riding her bike to the beach to walk the dunes near her home in Holland and horseback riding while living in England.

Tineke aspired to be a stewardess for KLM Dutch Airlines, which required fluency in four languages. She mastered Dutch, English, French and German. While spending time in Germany to learn the intricacies between the Dutch and German languages, she met a handsome American named William “Bill” Ray. Bill was in the Air Force and stationed in Wiesbaden. Tineke and Bill married July 31, 1962 in Wierden, Holland, before moving to the United States. Bill was stationed at several bases and schools during his remaining time in the Air Force: Vandenburg AFB - Lompoc, CA (Tine was born 1963), Laramie, WY (Michael and James were born on Tineke’s 27th birthday 1966), Texas, Castle AFB - Atwater, CA, then 5 years at Torrejon AFB outside of Madrid, Spain in 1971. This was Tineke’s favorite assignment. Only a two day drive to see her family in Holland every summer. Bill was stationed at Luke AFB in June 1976. Arizona became the permanent home for the Rays when he retired after 20 years in the Air Force.

Tineke and Bill shared a love for traveling. They visited multiple continents and so many countries together. Tineke especially loved any place with a beach. The only thing she loved more was her family. She adored her grandchildren and any time she got to spend with them. On October 23, 2006, Tineke lost the love of her life when Bill passed away. This left an unfillable void in her life. After 20 years apart, we find peace in knowing they are reunited in heaven and forever in our hearts. Love and miss you always, Mom and Dad.