Steve Rayburn

Robert Stephan “Steve” Rayburn died peacefully at home on September 14 ^th , 2020 after a five year battle with Parkinson Disease.   Memorial services will be at 2:00pm Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Hurley City Park with burial in the Hurley Cemetery.  Public Masonic Services will be held at 7:00pm Friday evening at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Hurley.  Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home.

Robert Stephan “Steve” Rayburn was born to Max and Betty Rayburn on February 11, 1950 and joined Carol, Don, and Dick on the family farm west of Hurley. After graduating from Hurley Public School and subsequently Dakota State College, he then joined his father and brother in farming, eventually retiring in 2013.

He married Janice Larsen July 12, 1975 and they were the proud parents of Nicole and Adam. Adam married Angela Van Voorst and presented them with his beloved grandchildren Jenna, Max, Owen, and Tara.    He loved spending time with his family, including taking them on family camping trips.

Steve and Jan loved to travel and they were blessed to travel to most of the 50 states and 5 continents. Steve’s favorite travels were to visit their exchange student Pia in Denmark and then cruise the Baltic Sea to St Petersburg, Russia and the Norwegian Fiords.  He also enjoyed exploring Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Panama Canal, Great Britain, Hawaii, Alaska, and many places in the Caribbean.

Steve enjoyed making kids smile by handing them a balloon animal (or two or three).   When he pulled out the bag of balloons, kids were quick to gather around him.    He won many trophies for his balloon sculptures at Midwest Shrine Conventions which are held within 5 states/3 Canadian provinces.

He was a very active member of the Hurley Fire Department and Ambulance.   He responded to  nearly every call for over 40 years and served as treasurer for both for about 35 years. He was also a very active member of Hurley’s Masonic Joppa Lodge, the El Riad Shrine Clowns, and the Hurley United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Don and wife Lila.  He is survived by his wife, Jan, daughter Nicki Rayburn of Sioux Falls, son Adam (Angela) Rayburn of Fairview, and his grandchildren Jenna, Max, Owen and Tara