Ray Rigg was born 30 October 1890 in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan and he died 18 February 1969.

 

 

The photo is of Ray (top left) with his sisters, Sadie Rigg (top right), Lydah Rigg (bottom left) and Fern Rigg (botton right).  The photo was taken in 1896.

Ray Rigg married Amelia Christina Wenzel, daughter of Friedrich August Wenzel and Amelia Kurtzhals, on 19 May in Saginaw by Pastor J.H. Westendorf.  Amelia was born 26 December 1895 in Saginaw County, Michigan.  She died 16 June 1973 and was buried 19 June 1973 in Oakwood Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

 

Ray and Amelia Rigg's witnesses for their marriage were Fred Wenzel of Merrill and Clara Rigg of Lakefield Township. Amelia lived in the Saginaw County area all her life and she was a member of the Lutheran Church. Amelia loved gardening, especially growing gladolias, and a variety of other flowers.

The photo is of Ray, Amelia (Millie) and Willard Rigg

Ray and Amelia (Wenzel) Rigg had the following children:

 

1.  Willard Willis Rigg was born 28 February 1917 and died 9 April 1975.

2.  Lila Marguerite Rigg was born 18 May 1919 and died 4 May 2012.

3.  Valara Hazel Rigg was born 25 June 1921 and died 29 May 2006.

4.  Ray Jr. Rigg was born 16 August 1924 and died 16 February 2014.

5.  Duane Arthur Rigg was born 16 October 1929 and died 7 August 1967.

 

Ray Rigg  went to the Burns School in Lakefield Township, Merrill, Michigan.  He also was an excellent baseball player.  When Ray and Millie were first married, they lived in Saginaw.  Later, they bought a farm in Thomas Township on Gleaner Road in Saginaw County. Ray was employed by the C&O Railway for 44 years retiring in 1956.  Ray was also a brick layer, did masonry work, and a plasterer. 

Ray Rigg was a life member of Salina Lodge NO. 155, F&AM, an honorary member of Solar Lodge No. 592, F&AM, a member of Saginaw Valley Chapter N 31, R.A.M., the St. Bernard Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar, Bay City Consistory, and the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple.  Ray was a member of the Saginaw Field and Stream Club; an avid deer, rabbit, and squirrel hunter, and a fisherman. 

Ray Rigg enjoyed playing the violin and made sure his children played a variety of musical instruments.  He also called for square dancing.

A Ray Rigg family photo:  left to right - front row:  Ray Jr. Rigg, Duane Rigg, and Valaria Rigg; left to right - back row: Lila Rigg, Ray Rigg, Amelia (Millie) Wenzel Rigg and Willard Rigg.  Photo taken in the 1930's

Willard as a baby

 

 

 

1.  Willard Willis  Rigg was born 28 February 1917 in Lakefield Township, Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan.  He died on 9 April 1975 at his home and was buried 12 April 1975 in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Michigan

Willard's High School Graduation Photo

 

 

 

Willard married Shirley M. Bissonette on 18 February 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan.

 

 

Willard played violin, accordian and the trombone.  He lived in Saginaw County area all of his life.  Willard was employed at the Chvrolet Grey Iron Foundry for 29 years retiring as an Assistant Superintendent.  He was a member of the First Christian Church in Saginaw, Michigan.  He was a member of Solar Lodge #592 and Salina Lodge #155, F. & A.M. St. Bernard's Commandery #16, the Knights Templar and the Elf Klurafeh Shrine.

Lila as a toddler

 

 

 2.  Lila Marguerite Rigg was born 18 May 1919 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan.  She died Friday, 4 May 2012 at her daughter's home in Bridgeport, Saginaw County, Michigan and was buried 11 May 2012 in the Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Michigan.

 

Lila was 92 years old when she passed away.

Lila's Graduation Photo

 

 

 

Lila was a graduate of Saginaw Arthur Hill High School, Class of 1937.  Lila was married to Eugene William Butler on 9 September 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan.  Eugene was born 7 January 1918 in Rossford, Ohio.  He died 6 December 1981 in St. Luke's Hospital, Saginaw, Michigan and was buried 9 December 1981 in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Saginaw, Michigan.

 

Lila was involved in her children's school P.T.A., Boy Scouts and was a very dedicated mother who was always very busy making sure her children had the best options and advantages available.

 

Lila Rigg Butler's Photo

Lila was a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saginaw, Michigan and was very active in many organizations:  The White Shrine of Jerusalem, Life Member of Daughter of the Nile, Past Directress of the Royal Order of Jesterettes, Commandry Auxiliary, The Hillbillys, The E.K.S. Club, United Commercial Travelers, The Saginaw Woman's Club, Women's Bowling Association, VFW Auxiliary 989, Merry Wives, Forget Me Nots, and Martha Washington Chapter #113 of the Eastern Star.  She was a long time attendee of the TownHall (Town Talk Series) of Saginaw, Michigan.  She also worked with Butler's Auction Service for many years. (Her son, Rod Butler's business).

Valaria has a toddler

 

 

3.  Valeria Hazel Rigg was born on 25 June 1921 in Lakefield Township, Merrill, Saginaw County, Michigan.  She died on 29 May 2006 in Saginaw Geriatrics Home, Saginaw, Michigan and was buried on 1 June 2006 in Oakwood Cemetery, Saginaw, Michhigan.

 

Valeria had enjoyed the hobbies of reading, embroidering and photography.  Some of her fondest memories were helping her mother, Amelia, in her flower gardens raising roses, snapdragons, gladiolas along with other beautiful flowers.  Valeria had been involved in the Saginaw, Michigan Town Hall meetings (Town Talk)  for years and she had belonged on a bowling league and car clubs.  She had a love of animals and had many different dogs, cats, guppies and goldfish.  The last few years of her life, Valeria was involved in the Parkinson Disease Association support group.

Ray Jr. as a baby

 

 

 

4.  Ray Rigg Jr. was born 16 August 1924 in Saginaw, Michigan and died 16 February 2014 in Saginaw, Michigan.   Ray Jr. was buried on 21 February 2014 in the Oakwood Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

 

Ray Jr.  was a graduate of Arthur Hill Tech and Arthur Hill High School, Class of 1943 in Saginaw, Michigan.  He played in the high school band and enjoyed playing the banjo and trumpet.   He was employed by Henry Electric, Rems Electric and Cotter Electric had been an active member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saginaw, Michigan.  He was a lifelong member of the Salina-Pioneer Lodge #79 F. & A.M.; a member of Saginaw Chapter #31; St. Bernard Commandery #16, Knights Templar; the Bay City, Michigan Consistory; and the Elf Khurafeh Shrine. 

 

Ray Jr. was an avid Detroit Tiger Baseball fan, he enjoyed playing pool, bowling, drawing, fishing and walking and he also loved animals and going to his cottage in Point Lookout in Michigan.

Duane in uniform

5.  Duane Arthur Rigg

 

SOURCES:  The Ray Rigg family information and photo's given by Lila Rigg Butler; Ray Jr. Rigg and Valaria Rigg.