Raphael “Ray” James Bisson, 72, of Polson, MT. passed away at his home on August 4, 2005.
Ray was born in to Camille & Mary (Dixon) Bisson on June 29, 1933 in Polson.
He grew up on the family home on Minesinger Trail near Polson. He attended schools at the Urseline School in St. Ignatius and Polson. He graduated from Polson High School in 1953.
Ray joined the U.S. Marine Corp. & also served in the U.S. Navy.
Ray worked at several jobs including Utsond Meats, Dupuis Mill & at the Hungry Horse dam. He eventually started working for the Department of Interior with the Bureau of Reclamation as a ditchrider for the Flathead Irrigation Project.

Ray continued to work as a ditchrider from 1970 until he retire in 1995.
Ray was one of the first to start raising Christmas trees in the Mission Valley. He still had a passion for raising trees. He was also proud of the fact that he built his own home.
Ray was member of the American Legion. He loved to fish, hunt and spend time with his family. He especially loved to spend time with his grandchildren.

Ray had numerous friends in the Mission Valley & in Ennis, MT.
His parents, 2 brothers & 5 sisters precede Ray in death.
He is survived by 2 daughters- Dixie Davis & her husband Monte of Ennis, MT.
and Rae Ann Matt of Pablo & 2 grandchildren- Monica & Shawn of Ennis.
He is also survived by 3 sisters- Alice Schnover of Puhrump, NV, Wanita Marquardt of Pablo & Mary Ann Bisson of Grandview, WA.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 10th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Grogan Funeral Home. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Thursday, August 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson with Father Val Zdilla as celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow at the Beauvais-Decker Cemetery (Old Catholic Cemetery) in Polson.

Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.