Raymond Cook

 Raymond Lawrence Cook passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was 79 years of age.

 Raymond was born in Preeceville, Saskatchewan, May 6, 1946. He was the second youngest of a family of 10 children born to his parents Ken and Margaret Cook. Raymond grew up on the family’s Mink Ranch, just 2 miles south of Hazel Dell, Saskatchewan. He attended the Hazel Dell School and then high school at the Sturgis Composite, in Sturgis, Saskatchewan. Raymond’s dad died when Raymond was 15 years of age and so he quit school in order to go home and help his mom with the Mink Ranch.

One year, while Raymond was hauling grain for a farmer, there was a young woman, Gailene Walters, also working harvest on the farm. Gailene says that when she saw Raymond “it was love at first sight”! Gailene and Raymond were married July 2, 1966 in the Anglican Church in Okla, Saskatchewan. When first married, they moved to the Cook Mink Ranch and lived in an apartment with four rooms and a bathroom on the top floor of the Pelting House.

 In 1969 they bought their own farm; to help pay for the farm and their new mortgage they moved for a year to BC in the Prince George area. They worked planting trees. Gailene’s job was sorting trees and Raymond’s was planting. When they first moved their son Kevin was small and they were expecting their second son Chris. They returned to the farm in 1970; the farm was a busy place with cattle and grain. They also had inherited dogs from Raymond’s dad and that began their decades long life of dog sled racing, taking them to many places across the country. Raymond’s partner for many years in this enterprise was his father-in-law, Willie Walters. The first race was in 1971 and the last in 2016. Raymond saw the family tradition grow to include the third generation with his grandchildren also participating. Raymond had many other work experiences, including working at Uranium City in the mine, custom trucking including hauling for the Department of Highways and working at the Hazel Dell Community Pasture.

Raymond was always busy throughout his life. He sawed lumber, raised goats, built sheds and helped his adult children and grandchildren with projects at their homes. Raymond loved animals and nature, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, picking mushrooms and going for walks in the bush.  In his home there are many examples of beautiful diamond willow furniture which he made. Raymond loved playing cards and was very competitive, he also loved watching movies.  In younger years, he played a lot of ball and in senior years, played slow pitch.  Raymond loved being with his family and close friends.

Raymond’s quiet strength, kindness, honesty, and caring was well known by family and friends. Raymond passed away unexpectedly on July 1, 2025 after experiencing a stroke the day before.

Raymond was predeceased by his parents Ken and Margaret, brothers Kenneth and Eric, sisters Vivian and Phyllis, two daughters in infancy, Kimberly and Colleen.

He leaves to mourn his wife of 59 years, Gailene, their two children Kevin (Rhonda), Chris (Denise); grandchildren, Shelby (Taylor) and their children Emerly and Oaklynn, Wyatt (Brittany) and their son Weston, Samantha, Brooke and her two children Jack and Jake, Skye (Taylor), Brianna, sisters; Marge and Bessie, brothers; Clifford, David (Elva), Bruce(Jane), sister-in-law; Glennis, many nieces and nephews, other family and close friends.

Funeral Service was held Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity United Church, Preeceville with Rev. Miles Russell officiating.  The pianist, Karolyn Kosheluk with the Trinity United Church Choir led the congregation in the singing of the hymns “Amazing Grace”, “I Am Thine O Lord”, and “Old Rugged Cross”, words of remembrance were given by  Sheila Ivanachko . Interment followed in the Hazel Dell Cemetery. The urn bearers were Kevin Cook, Chris Cook and Wyatt Cook.

The urn for Raymond has been built by Kevin’s father-in-law; Ronald Jaques. He incorporated tamarack wood strips on parts of it; Raymond had shown the wood to Ronald awhile back as he loved the look of the grain in the wood, it was sawn at Chris's sawmill by Raymond and Chris. It has been stored at Chris’s sawmill to be built into something special. This wood has been used for the urn, incorporated on the lid is Raymond’s first win of the World Champion Sled Dog Race in the Pas, MB, 1983. Raymond went onto win this race several times after.

Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Trinity United Church Preeceville (box 1105 Preeceville, SK. S0A 3B0).

Those unable to attend may view a live-stream of the service any time after 1:45pm on Wednesday CLICK HERE

Arrangements for Raymond Cook have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.