With heartfelt sympathy, we at Backus Funeral Home sorrowfully announce the passing of military veteran Mr. Russell K. Raymer of Florence, SC, who ascended into eternal life on April 02, 2026.

Professional Services are entrusted to Backus Funeral Home. Please keep the Raymer family in your thoughts and prayers.

Russell Kenneyed Raymer passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, in Florence, South

Carolina. He was born May 4, 1937, the son of Ray Raymer and Earle Glenn (Johnson)

Raymer in Kansas, IL on May 4, 1937.

Russell is preceded in death by his wife, Alice Ann Gaines, his parents Ray and Earle Raymer,

and his sister Olga Raymer Heath. He is survived by his youngest sister Barbara Sue Oliver of

Indianapolis, IN, and his children: Kevin Raymer (Merilyn) of Virginia Beach, VA; Bradley

Raymer (Patrice) of New Hope, MN and Melissa Raymer (Ron Fox) of Chanhassen, MN and

granddaughters Samantha Raymer (Paul Cumming) and Meghan Holtman (Danie).

Russell met his wife Alice on a blind date, got engaged the following Saturday, and married

three months later on August 15, 1959. They lovingly embraced and supported each other for

63 years until Alice passed away on March 28, 2022. He honorably served two years in the

U.S. Army in Korea and Fort Eustis, VA near the end of the Korean War with Co. C 159 th T Bn

as a Boatswain before returning home to Illinois. He worked construction driving cement trucks

in the building of the State Farm Center that opened as Assembly Hall on March 2, 1963 on

the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, Illinois. He built farm silos and then managed

farm fertilizer distribution for Schertz Fertilizer Service in El Paso, IL and then Aylco Fertilizer

Service in Cooksville, IL. Russell and Alice moved their family to Wisconsin to work for Lindsay

Brothers and L.F. George, Inc. building a thriving sales portfolio selling and delivering farm

equipment and recreational vehicles to implement dealers throughout Wisconsin, Michigan,

Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. He and Alice transitioned into insurance by operating their own

Farmers Insurance Group agencies in Rice Lake and Eau Claire, WI for many years. They

initially retired to Chanhassen, MN but moved to Florence, SC for their final years. He enjoyed

the outdoors, time with family, friends, animals, and spreading his wicked sense of humor.

Russell was a dedicated husband and father who will be deeply missed by his adoring family

and the wonderful staff at Southland Health Care Center in Florence, SC.