Date of Birth: July 4, 1939
Date of Death: May 19, 2026
Raymond Stanley Malinowski, beloved husband of Mrs. Elsie Malinowski of Yorkton passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Yorkton Regional Health Centre. Ray was 86 years of age.
Ray was born on July 4, 1939, in the Bankend area of Saskatchewan to Stanley and Helen Malinowski. He grew up in a humble rural home as the middle child of five children. Ray attended school in Bankend (Grades 1–8) and Foam Lake (Grades 9-12). In February of grade 9, Ray was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He joined his father at the Fort San Sanatorium near Fort Qu’Appelle, where he completed Grade 9 and started Grade 10 by correspondence. Ray spoke often of the experience of being confined a year away from family, friends and teenage activities. However, being with his dad during this time left him with many cherished memories. When Ray’s father passed away shortly thereafter from silicosis, Ray honored his father’s wish to always look after his mother.
Ray trained at Saskatchewan Teachers College in Moose Jaw, and began teaching in Regina. He was later employed by Dun & Bradstreet of Canada Ltd. in Regina, Saskatoon, and as a Manager in Winnipeg. While in Saskatoon, he met Elsie of the Smuts-Alvena area at a friend’s birthday party. The two married on July 4, 1964 (following a family tradition of his father and brother marrying on their birthdays) at St. Mary’s Parish in Saskatoon. The newlyweds spent their first married years in Winnipeg. In 1967, they moved to Yorkton when Ray joined his brother Leon in businesses Leon’s Mfg. and Ram Industries.
Devoted to his family and work, Ray travelled extensively to over 60 countries promoting the businesses and participating in government export trade missions, often with Elsie at his side. In their golden years, Ray and Elsie spent summers in Yorkton and winters enjoying warmer southern climates.
Together Ray and Elsie raised a busy household of five children. Hard work, common sense, generosity, and a deep faith in God’s plan were the foundation of his life. He believed strongly in education, taking immense pride that all his children earned university degrees. He found great joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ray and Elsie’s lasting message to the family was, “Always remember we love you very much.”
Ray was highly active throughout his long career, proudly serving many organizations in leadership roles. He was President for the Yorkton and the Saskatchewan Chambers of Commerce and was President of the Prairie Implement Manufacturers’ Association (PIMA). Additionally, he served as Chairman for the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC), the Canadian Farm and Industrial Equipment Institute (CFIEI), and the Management Internship Program for Native Business, and was member of the Knights of Columbus and the Rotary Club of Yorkton.
Ray also served as Director for many institutions, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI); the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); the Canada Ukraine 97 Business Initiative; University Scholarships of Canada; Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI); and Westbridge Computer Corp. Ray was a founding Director of the Regina Columbus Boys League and an honorary Director of the Boy Scouts (Sask. Division). He was a member of Council for Canadian Unity, the Saskatchewan Award of Merit selection committee, the Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) for the Canada-USA Free Trade Agreement, as well as a trustee of the Sports Fund for the Physically Disabled.
Among his many accolades, Ray was a Lifetime Member of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, was recognized as a “Saskatchewan Achiever” in business, and received the Canada 125 Medal. In 2023 Ray was honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee
Medal in Saskatchewan.
Ray enjoyed bluegrass music and kept current in news and industry developments. As an avid reader, lifelong learner, and proficient orator, he was a natural storyteller with a gifted memory who shared interesting experiences and insight into a wide range of topics. A generous host who enjoyed organizing parties, he taught his children from a young age the importance of treating guests well. Ray modelled an attitude of respect and gratitude for extended family, and will be remembered for intentionally making the effort to regularly visit with his and Elsie’s relatives. Ray also cherished the many friends he had made around the world, valuing their friendship, generosity, and frequent interactions over the years.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Stanley (1956) and Helen (Swiderski) Malinowski (1982); mother-in-law Verna (Lozinsky) Stadnyk (2008); father-in-law Nicholas Stadnyk (1983); brother Leon (Pauline) Malinowski; sister Florence (Andrew) Wielgoz; sister Roseline (Joseph) Bukowski; and infant grandson Simon (2008).
Ray leaves to mourn his wife of over 60 years, Elsie Mary (Stadnyk); his children: Linda (Dwight) Turta, Shelley (Todd) Stepanuik, Donna (Erin) McCauley, John (Susan) Malinowski, Carla (David) Lammers; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, his sister Elizabeth (Holley) Miller; and many relatives and good friends.
A Prayer Vigil was held on Friday, May 22 and Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, May 23, 2026, both from St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church in Yorkton with Father Sathiadas Antony as the Celebrant. Readers were Mason Lammers (Grandson), Josef Stepanuik (Grandson), Garin Lammers (Grandson) and Tracey Miller (Niece). Gift bearers were Grace Malinowski and Reid Stranaghan (granddaughters). Rita Hilbig and Bruce Monette with members of the parish choir led the congregation in the singing of the hymns ‘Here I Am Lord’, ‘Prayer of St. Francis’, ‘You Are Near’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. Interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with John Malinowski (son), Dwight Turta (son-in-law), Todd Stepanuik (son-in-law), Erin McCauley (son-in-law), David Lammers (son-in-law) and David Malinowski (nephew) serving as the casketbearers.
Memorial donations may be made to The Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan, specifically designated to the New Regional Hospital Fund as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family and the funeral can be viewed by visiting Ray’s obituary page at baileysfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey’s Funeral Home.
