Raymond F. Welte

Smithfield, UT – On March 29 2025 a good man and beloved husband Raymond Frank Welte passed away in Smithfield, Utah at the age of 93. Ray was a loving husband to Colleen and a good friend to many. He was the father of 4 and grandfather and great-grandfather to several.

Ray was born on July 20, 1931 to William and Hazel Welte in SLC, UT. His brother Claron Lamar arrived 3 years later and they became a family of four. Both of his parents were divorced. He also had a brother Weston Johnson and a sister Maxine Frehner in Iowa. He also had two brothers Byard and Richard Keith Welte and a sister Dorothy Job in SLC, UT. All deceased.

Ray loved growing up on Sherman Avenue where he and Claron played in the gully and set off firecrackers in the street. He attended Roosevelt Junior and East High school. The family moved to Phoenix, AZ. where he loved swimming and riding around on his Cushman Motor Scooter. His father bought him a car with the understanding he would finish school, but instead he drove back to Salt Lake City and lived on the streets, sleeping in the stairwell of the Golds Gym at night. He learned to box and lift weights and was still lifting weights in his 90’s.

Ray married and had 4 children. He served his country during the Korean War. He later
served his community for 24 years as a Salt Lake City Police officer. He often said he never hated to go to work there. Ray was a hard worker holding down two jobs most of his life. He also worked at the Salt Lake County Recorders Office where he loved to scare or play tricks on his co-workers. Of course they returned the favor (Shirley).

Ray loved baseball, football and kids. He coached baseball in the Cop’s League and was instrumental in bringing little league baseball and football to the Murray area. He was the first president of the football league there. Then he coached baseball and football with his son Terry, helping his grandsons, Brandon and Casey. Ray was vice-president of the Jordan football league and helped prepare the fields before the game on Saturday mornings.

On weekends he washed his car and manicured his lawn. He won an award in Sandy, Utah for the best- looking yard. He still found time to go boating and snowmobiling. Ray also would go motorcycling, ATVing and camping. We went to Yellowstone National Park every summer and later bought a house in Star Valley Ranch after retiring. Ray and Coco lived there for almost 20 years.

Ray lived a full life and will be lovingly missed.

Ray is survived by his wife of 53 years, Colleen; his children Sherry (Clint) Cope, Cory Lee, William Terry Welte, and Leslee Welte(deceased); grandchildren Mathew Capson (deceased), Tonja Capson, Taysha Rafferty, Brandon Welte, Danielle (Josh) Martin, Andria Welte, Austin Welte (deceased) Dallas Welte, Casey (Nichole) Mayor (Casey Deceased) and Daniel Welte; 12 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the staff of Birch Creek Assisted Living Center for all their loving care and attention to Ray.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 11th at 10:00 am Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, where a funeral will follow at 10:45 AM.  Interment will follow services at approximately noon at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 1342 East 500 South.

We love you Ray!

“The pain of missing you is a beautiful reminder of the joy of loving you”. -Dean Jackson