John J. Pray - Sioux Falls: Dec. 2, 1961 – June 24, 2012

John J. Pray, 50, died Sunday, June 24, 2012, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Second Presbyterian Church in Flandreau. Burial is in Union Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 – 8 p.m. Wednesday at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau.

John was born Dec. 2, 1961, in New York to Rev. Bruce S. and Rose (Bairos) Pray, Sr. He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1980.

Following high school John attended USD and then aeronautics school in Wyoming. He then moved to Sioux Falls and began his lifelong career of being a carpenter.

John loved riding his motorcycle, fishing, building things, classic rock music and loved his dog, Lucky.

He will be remembered as a loving and caring father and grandfather. He was a member of the Carpenters Union in Sioux Falls.

John is survived by four children, Joseph Pray of Sioux Falls, Brittany (Thien) Ho of Flandreau, Benjamin Pray of Sioux Falls and Sara Pray of Sioux Falls; two grandchildren; his mother, Rose Pray of Flandreau; fiancée, Stacey Keith; five brothers, Steven Pray of Stevens Point, Wis., Ronald Pray of Deadwood, Bruce Pray, Jr. of Lincoln, Neb., Douglas Pray of Flandreau and Jerry Pray of Seattle; three sisters, Karen (Chuck) Hasvold of Hartford, Shirley (Bruce) Jensen of Flandreau and Elsie Pray of Seattle and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Bruce S. Pray, Sr.

For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.