Dennis Allen Raven was born June 3, 1941, in Bath, Maine to Burleigh Raven and Blossom Lowden. He died peacefully in his home in Belen, New Mexico with his wife Lucille Ruth Raven (Hemingway) at his side on January 18, 2023. He graduated from Erskine Academy in 1958 and went into the Navy. He started a carpentry business after his honorable discharge. He comes from a long line of wood workers on both sides of his family and became interested in building at a young age. His father, Burleigh Raven, and his grandfather, Clifton Lowden, taught him his beginning skills. He perfected those skills in his trade and always stated that he felt closer to Jesus because he was doing the same work as the Master Carpenter.
While he was working as a cabinet maker, he took courses to become a licensed minister and started preaching at local churches in Maine. He felt called to build on the reservations in New Mexico and to volunteer his time and skills for various building projects there. He was given the name of “big man with the fire beard” by the Navajo. He later moved to Alaska, where he pastored at the House of Prayer church in Delta Junction. He built a new church there after the passing of his son Airman John Raven. Dennis started asking for his son John a few days before he went to be with the Heavenly Father. They are rejoicing now in the presence of the God of the Universe. He donated millions in time and materials over his 50-plus years of service.
Dennis had many hobbies and really enjoyed hunting, fishing, and getting out into the great outdoors. He would feed the birds in the winter in Maine, and they would line up on his shoulders and head waiting for him to fill the bird feeder. He loved wildlife. Wherever he lived, he would hunt and fish to put wild game into the freezers to feed his family and would grow the needed vegetables in huge gardens. He wasn’t afraid of hard work and piled up multiple cords of wood for the wood stoves. He loved to charge around on his ATV and run tractors and other heavy equipment. He also liked to be a prankster like any good Raven and kept life jovial even through some of the hardest moments that life can bring.
Dennis is survived by his wife Lucille Raven; his daughters Tina Raven-Kingson, Tracy Morales, and Tamie Webb; his grandchildren Jonathan Oliver, Nathan Oliver, Christopher Raven, Kimberly Frances, Richard Frances, Tim Webb, Megan Christofferson (Webb); and his great grandchildren Matthias Oliver, Isobel Oliver, Sigourney Raven, Cosmo Raven, Zsa Zsa Raven, Karley Williams, and Kinsley Christofferson.
His earthly remains are being cared for by the Noblin Funeral Home in Belen, New Mexico. There will not be a funeral, but a celebration of life will be held with family and friends according to his wishes.
Pastor Raven had a soft spot for children, those disadvantaged, and our service members and veterans.
The family has requested that instead of flowers, please make a donation in his name to either the Make a Wish Foundation (wish.org), Mercy Ships (www.mercyships.org), or the Disabled American Vets-DAV (dav.org).
