Retha Roena Ray Hubbs

Sept. 6, 1924 – Sept. 12, 2020

Retha Roena Ray Hubbs, 96, died Sept. 12, 2020, of natural causes at the High Plains Retirement Village in the Alzheimer’s Care Unit.

She was born Sept. 6, 1924, at Haviland, Kan., the daughter of Willie C. Ray and Lulanell Elizabeth Dealey Ray. 

Living on a farm outside of Tribune, Kan., Retha attended the country school of Cactus. One season her grade school competed against another country school, Mt. Olive, and two town schools, Tribune and Horace, in a competition which we would consider a track event now. The small country school of Cactus took first place with every child competing in homemade uniforms of black and orange made by their mothers, including Retha’s mother, Lulanell. Retha was one of the star runners at this competition, placing first in her events, and her younger sister Lorene came in third to help with the trophy win. Mt. Olive placed second making the little country schools the victors. 

Retha went to high school in Tribune, pursuing home economics, and as a drum majorette she was adept in twirling two batons simultaneously. Her prize for that was a broken nose.

After high school it wasn’t long until she traveled to California to visit family and reconnected with her future husband, Dale L. Hubbs, who was attending Naval boot camp. Dale began courting Retha soon after. He transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas, for Naval air training, and he asked Retha to come to Texas and marry him, and she agreed. They were married Dec. 14, 1944. Soon, they traveled to Florida for more flight training. After the war ended, they moved to Boulder, Colo., where they established their home and grew their family while Dale attended pharmacy school. 

When Dale graduated, life found them in Tribune to become owner/operators of T.K. Drug. In 1955 it was off to Lovell, where they purchased the Busy Corner Pharmacy. In 1973 came a career change and a move to Saratoga, Wyo., to co-own and operate the Reverse L Diamond Ranch. In 1980, with their parents’ health failing, they again moved to Sharon Spring, Kan. 

One of Retha’s joys while living in Sharon Springs was to drive a school bus and make cookies for the children who rode with her. Dale and Retha made a few more moves, and, as you can imagine, in all these moves Retha became very proficient in packing and unpacking.

Throughout her life she owned a milk cow and made butter and cottage cheese for her family to enjoy and to sell. She also made a famous sour cream chocolate cake that was to die for, passing down the recipe to her oldest granddaughter. 

Retha worked side by side with her husband Dale in laying a foundation of love, responsibility, commitment and continual example of a solid work ethic for their children, and for an understanding of life in hard and abundant times.

She was a devoted wife and mother. We celebrate Retha’s life, and because of our faith we rejoice that she has now joined our father, the love of her life. 

Retha is survived by two sons, Dennis Hubbs of Saratoga and  Kim Hubbs of Templeton, Calif.; three daughters, Iris Harnagel of Casper, Penny Twomey of Wright, Wyo., and  Kody Rogers of Scott City, Kan.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister Carolyn Ray of Scott City. 

Retha was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dale (2009), one daughter Jonell and one sister Lorene Giesick.

There will be a private family memorial in Wyoming at a later date.

For memorial donations the family requests they be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. You can find more about Alzheimer’s and where to donate to research at www.alz.org/. Donate link and the address of the home office is at the bottom of the link page. This address is for additional information on the disease, www.alzheimers.net/.

Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com.