Theodore ‘Larry’ Raile

Theodore Raile was born on March 7, 1937, in St. Francis, Kansas. Larry Passed away on June 23, 2023, at the Imperial Manor quietly in his sleep at the age of 86.
His childhood was spent with five sisters and two brothers in and around St. Francis, Kansas. He was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He attended Cheyenne County country school until the 8th grade and continued working on the family farm.
On June 5, 1955, he married Phyllis Roesener and began a lifelong career in the auction sales business starting at the Benkelman Livestock Auction Market. In 1959, the Imperial Auction Market became home to Larry, Phyllis and three children, Deb, Candy and Butch. His success as an auctioneer grew to the point he was traveling constantly to sell at some of the largest sale barns in the country. His auction cry was well known in places like Ogallala, Alma, Ericson, Belle Fourche, South Dakota and La Junta, Colorado to name a few. He competed for and finished runner-up in the National Championship Auctioneer contest. In addition to his busy barn schedule, he held many farm and ranch sales in several states.
Larry was always a hand with horses and loved training and working with them. In later years he organized and led numerous wagon train drives across various parts of Nebraska. At the height of the drives as many as 30 wagons and teams and more than a hundred people were involved. Larry was active in 4-H where he led the Silver Spurs horse club for many years.
He was always available to help with branding or gathering a herd of cattle for someone. When there was true cowboy work to be done, Larry often got the call. There were not many, any better, to handle a cattle wreck than him, if you needed help with one.
Larry never met a stranger and regardless of where you went, someone there had heard of Larry Raile. He will live on in many stories that will only get better.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ted and Laura Raile and Thelma Raile; in-laws August and Ruby Roesener; infant son Scott William; sister Emma Brunswick; and brothers-in-laws Ed Brunswick, Jesse Pugh, Merlin Burr and Norman Zweygardt.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Phyllis; children Deb (Steve) Leibbrandt of Imperial, Candy (Larry) Colson of Hamilton, Montana and Butch (Jackie) Raile of Hamilton, Montana; grandchildren Lisa (Jarod) Smith of Lincoln, Cyndi (Dustin) Weiss of Imperial, Scott (Maika) Leibbrandt of Imperial, Colt (Andrea) Colson of Missoula, Montana, Nick (Lauren) Colson of Puyallup, Washington, Luke Raile and Kayla Clarke of Bozeman, Montana, Aaron (Liz) McBride of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Shane(Hannah) McBride of Portland, Oregon; great-grandkids Paige and Chase Smith, Beau, Norah, and Asher Weiss, Simon and Claire Leibbrandt, Ruger Colson, Gavin and Brooke Colson, Henry, Freddy and Theodore McBride and Brady McBride; sisters Laura Pugh of St. Francis, Kansas, Donna Zweygardt of Phoenix, Arizona, Dixie Burr of Brighton, Colorado and Linda (Dan) Brenn of Colby, Kansas; brothers Sydney (Cheryl) Raile of North Platte and Stan (Merna) Raile of Celera, Oklahoma.
Funeral Services were held Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial, with Pastor Scott Adle officiating. Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Visitation was held before services, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, starting at 9 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial.
Memorials in Larry’s memory have been suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial and the Chase County Community Senior Center, Imperial.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.