Raymond Norman Sampson

Raymond Norman Sampson passed from this life to be with the Lord on February 26th, 2024, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. He was born on July 2nd, 1943, in Beaumont, Texas, the son of Raymond and Katie Sampson. He grew up in both east Texas and central Louisiana. Raymond served in the US Army for 3 years, where he was stationed for a time in West Germany at the Berlin Wall. While in the Army, he was selected as the soldier of the year for his division, representing them at the 25th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy. He also enjoyed success as an undefeated boxer in the Army. After the Army, he met the love of his life, Susan Smith, and they married shortly after in 1967. Raymond went on to receive his doctorate in psychology from the University of Houston, and then served his country for 17 more years in the US Navy as a clinical psychologist. During his time in the Navy, he was a professor at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) from 1981-1985. While there, he was the coach of the USNA rifle team and was the judge for the boxing team. Following his teaching years, he was a renowned clinical psychologist and treated thousands of soldiers and their families. On several occasions, he was also called upon by the FBI to use his psychology background to aid in the investigation of missing persons. After retiring from the military, he moved his family to Hibbing, Minnesota, where he began a successful private practice which lasted many years. He enjoyed the north country, and loved to go camping and fishing with his grandchildren and friends. For the last 22 years of his life, he served as a deacon at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Raymond was an active presence in the Diocese of Duluth, assisting at Masses, performing baptisms (including those of most his grandchildren), and doing many other services for his church. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Susan Sampson, his brother Greg, his sister Madeline (Massoud), his daughter Rachel (Michael) Cady, their children Ethan, Ryan, Adam, Annemarie, and John Paul, his son Matt (Amy), and their children, Amelia, Philip, and Charlotte. Raymond had an immense and contagious joy for life which he found through his faith and time spent with his children and grandchildren. He was a truly holy man, and he will be missed by the many of us that loved him.

A Mass of Christian Burial to honor Raymond will be held at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing, Minnesota on Saturday, March 2nd, at 11:00am. Visitation at Blessed Sacrament 9:00am-10:30 and a Rosary at 10:30am-11:00. Interment will be held at the Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, MN.