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- Corvallis Gazette-Times, Tuesday, 8 Jun 2004
Raymond Bassett
Aug. 12, 1908 - June 1, 2004
Former Benton County resident Raymond Morden Bassett died June 1 in Davenport,
Wash., at the age of 95. His home was in Harrington, Wash.
He was born in Wahpeton, N.D., to Elmer and Annie Bassett. He attended school
in Wahpeton and graduated from North Dakota State School of Science. He was
elected into the North Dakota State School of Science Hall of Fame in 1980. He
received his bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University and masters
from the University of Minnesota.
He married Marjorie Dean Smith on June 8, 1928, in Annadale, Minn. He w
lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War I
He taught in North Branch, Wells, Mountain Lake, Windom, New Ulm and Tracy,
Minn.; Wahpeton, N.D.; and Lewiston, Mont. before venturing to Alaska long
before statehood to teach in Ketchikan. He eventually became principal of the
local high school until his semi-retirement in 1965.
He and Marge lived in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1965 to 1970, and he closed out his
education career after a five-year stint as a college tutor for Kenyatta
College in Nairobi, and liaison officer for the Agency of International
Development in Uganda-Kenya.
After living in Benton County briefly before moving to Kenya, the couple
returned to the area for about 10 years in 1970.
Along with teaching the sciences, he coached football, basketball, baseball
and tennis. While coaching at North Branch, Minn. (a school of less than 120
students), he coached his basketball team to victory over St. Paul, Minn. High
School in the state championship.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman and tennis, basketball, football and baseball
player, and he excelled and won many awards in each of these sports.
He was a member of the Lions Club, Fraternal Order of Elks, NRA, and a
lifetime member of the NEA and Alaska congress of Parents and Teacher
He and Marge never had children of their own, but helped raise and nurture
many, many children and young adults throughout their lives. They put many
students through college, and their only payback was seeing and experiencing
the joy of watching them succeed in their chosen careers. The students they
touched continued to respond through letters and visits and gave them great
joy right up until Marge's death last year and Ray's death June 1.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life of 65 years, Marjorie, in
2003; his parents and sister Aerial. He is survived by a nephew, Rob O'Connor,
niece Molly Schworm of Eugene and many friends and former students.
Raymond would ask that you honor his memory by helping others and ask them to
pass it on.
At his request, there will be no service. Cremation arrangements were made by
Strate Funeral home in Davenport.
Memorials may be made to the North Dakota School of Science, 800 N. Sixth St.,
Wahpeton, N.D., 58076; the KayHi Scholarship Fund in care of Ketchican High
School, 2610 4th Ave., Ketchikan, AK 99901; The Seattle Foundation, 425 Pike
St. Suite 510, Seattle, Wash., 98101-2334, or the Lincoln County Nursing Home,
10 Nichols St., Davenport, Wash. 99122.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1908 - 2004 (95 years)