Raymond Hedman
Raymond Hedman, age 68, of Madison, SD, died Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Sanford-USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral Services will be, 11:00AM, Monday, January 5, 2026 at the United Methodist Church in Madison. Visitation will be from 9:00AM to 11:00AM, preceding the Funeral Service. A luncheon will be served after the service. Burial will follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Raymond Eugene “Ray” Hedman was born in Brookings, SD on April 27th, 1957 to Robert Ellsworth Hedman and Holly Marie (Stone) Hedman. He was the first child of what would become a family of four boys. At about a year old the family moved permanently to Hayes, SD to the family farm/ranch.
Ray attended Hayes School from the first through eighth grades, Pierre Junior High School, and graduated from T.F. Riggs Senior High School in 1975. He attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City from 1975 to 1979, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Engineering.
After graduation, Ray began an oil and gas industry career as a field engineer in Hobbs, New Mexico, employed by Schlumberger Well Services and promoted to Sales Engineer in Midland, Texas in 1983. During that time, he was published in geological journals in the Permian Basin area of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. He attended Colorado School of Mines earning an Advanced Degree in 1986–87. He later continued employment in oil-related businesses, working for Hearst Corp., Hart Publications, Compressor Systems/Warren Equipment Company (Caterpillar), and Baker Hughes. During his oil and gas industry career, he was active in the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the West Texas Geological Society.
After almost 20 years of the oil industry, Ray joined General Electric Capital, which later became Genworth Financial and, he moved to Lubbock, Texas. He began spending more time during summers at the family cabin on Lake Madison. He permanently moved back to South Dakota in 2012.
After returning to South Dakota, Ray was active in Madison United Methodist Church and community service, serving on the Missions Committee, Madison Meals on Wheels, and as an officer in the Brookings Area Quilters Guild. He valued time with friends at local coffee shops, community dining programs, Bible study, civic meetings, and area church suppers.
Raymond is survived by his daughter Cassandra Govan of Midland, TX and her family; two brothers: Bryan (Pamela) Hedman of Brandon; Larry (Sandra) Hedman of Canton; niece Brittany (Chris) Mehlhaf; niece Elizabeth (Chase) Hart; nephew Andrew (Katie) Hedman; nephew John (Andrea) Hedman; numerous grandnieces and grandnephews; aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Robert E. Hedman; mother Holly M. Stubbs; step-father William Stubbs; brother Ronald Hedman and several other relatives.