Arthur John Raymond was born one of 10 children on Jan. 18, 1923, at Winner, S.D., the son of Enoch and Mary (Frazier) Raymond. Art was raised at the family home near Millboro, S.D., where he attended grade school. Art attended high school at the Rosebud Boarding School, Mission, S.D., and graduated at the head of his class.
Art enlisted as a private in the Army during World War II. Working his way through the ranks, at war’s end he was commander of an infantry rifle company with the rank of first lieutenant. Art was a member of the 320th infantry regiment, 35th division of Patton’s 3rd Army.
On return to civilian life, he graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell, S.D., with a B.A. degree in economics in 1951. That year, he also won the Wall Street Journal award Outstanding Student in Economics. In 1953, he joined the staff of the Mitchell Daily Republic newspaper full time and was promoted to city editor in October of that year. One of Art’s stories was nominated for the Pulitzer Award.
He accepted a position as managing editor of the Williston Herald in January 1962. He accepted an offer from the Grand Forks Herald to move to Grand Forks in January 1965, where he was the Sunday editor, feature writer and legislative reporter. In North Dakota, Art was president of the North Dakota Associated Press; a member of his church’s bi-racial commission; a member of the vestry of the Episcopal churches at Williston and Grand Forks; a licensed lay reader, a Sunday school teacher and a chalice bearer for many years in both states.
On June 30, 2007, Art was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of N.D. In 1970, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives and served for six years. He was the first ever Native American to be elected and serve in the North Dakota Legislature, and the first state employee to be elected and serve.
Art was the director of Indian Studies and programs at the University of North Dakota, 1971-78, and director of Indian Program Development until his retirement on June 30, 1991.
Art also belonged to the American Diabetes Association, both the North Dakota affiliate and national; Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni association, national president; Greater Grand Forks Boxing association, president; National Diabetes Advisory Board, charter member; National Executive Council, Episcopal Church, USA and the North Dakota Associated Press, president. Art also held an honorary doctor’s degree, Dakota Wesleyan University and was chosen an Outstanding Freshman Legislator (N.D.) by the Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University in 1971.
During retirement, Art was active as the chairman of the Board for Options Inc.; a member of the corporate board for United Health Services; a member of the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission; a member of the Regional Civil Rights Commission, and a member of the board of directors for Dakota Wesleyan University,
Art and Rose Marie Schone, White Lake, S.D., met at Dakota Wesleyan University and were married April 28, 1950, while still students.
Art is survived by: his wife, Rose Raymond, Grand Forks; sons, Arthur Raymond Jr., Hot Springs, S.D., Eric Raymond, Grand Forks and Mark (Niki) Raymond, Grand Forks; daughters, Mary (Steve) Murray, West Fargo and Rebekah Raymond, Lakeville, Minn.; brothers, Elgie (Margaret) Raymond, Tahlequah, Okla., and Robert (El Rita) Raymond, Billings; sister, Geraldine Lira, Oakland, Calif.; granchildren, Arthur Raymond III, Grand Forks, Laura Klinger, Juneau, Alaska, Dustin Raymond, Juneau, Leah Murray, Minneapolis, Sean Murray, Minneapolis, Bridgett DeBoer, Grand Forks and Drew Raymond, Grand Forks; great-grandchildren, Joe, Jodi, Jillian and Makaya and many nieces and nephews.
Art was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services are Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 319 South 5th Street, Grand Forks.
Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. on Friday with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 South 42nd St., Grand Forks.
An online guest register may be signed at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com.
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