Austin Ray Tygart – Rochester, MN

Ray Tygart, 75, of Rochester, MN, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26 th , 2025, peacefully at home with his wife and son by his side.

Ray was born November 20 th , 1949 to George Raymond and Ruby Wanda (Clark) Tygart in Shawnee Mission, KS. He graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1967. In 1969, he enlisted in the  US Army and was deployed to Vietnam in 1970 where he was a radio repair technician. That same year he met Nhung Thi Huynh of Vinh Long, South Vietnam while stationed with the 7 th of the 1 st Air Cavalry Division. They married on August 20 th, 1971 on his second tour of duty.

After the war, he worked for IBM, retiring after 30 plus years. While working for IBM, he relocated to Hyde Park, New York in 1983 from Kansas City, KS. Later, he and his family would call Boulder and Loveland, CO home, before relocating to Rochester, MN in 1993, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Ray enjoyed traveling, hiking, camping and fishing with his family prior to being diagnosed with Multiple  Sclerosis in 1984. He also loved listening to music, watching sports and movies. He had a fascination with the areas of History, Anthropology, and Paleontology, reading extensively on these subjects.

He is survived by his wife, Nhung, and his sons; Khanh (Carolina) of St. Augustine, FL, David (Brook) of  Rochester, MN, and George of Rochester, MN; and six grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister and one brother.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 7 th , 2025 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home from 1 pm to 4:00 pm, with an opportunity for anyone to speak the hour preceding the service. The funeral services will be held at 4:00 pm followed by a hearse tour around 4:30 pm for the immediate family, ending with a luncheon for all in the River Park Reception Hall at Macken Funeral Home.

The family requests that memorial gifts be through donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  or Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.