Michael Todd Raida was born November 30, 1957 in Kingman, Kansas to Marshall and Clarice (Bowersock) Raida.  He started school in Kingman and made a lot of friends there.  It wasn't unusual for there to be 15 or more kids playing in the backyard at any one time.

The family moved to the farm south of Norwich, Kansas in 1969 where he started 7th grade.  Mike, as his closest friends would call him, graduated from Norwich High School with the Class of 1976.  He loved playing football, basketball and especially participating in track.  As an avid runner, he won titles, medals, and trophies at school track meets and would run about 3 miles a day for fun throughout his young adult life.

Mike loved growing up on the family farm where he enjoyed fishing and hunting.  He also accepted the daily duties of farm life by taking care of the farm animals, spending time on the tractor, baling hay, and other daily duties.

In 1978 he studied and trained to become a Licensed Private Pilot.  His passion throughout his lifetime was flying airplanes and he enjoyed anything that concerned aerospace.  After receiving his Bachelor's Degree from Wichita State University, Mike worked as an Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer for many of the Aircraft companies in Wichita, Kansas.  He also worked at Boeing Aircraft Company for 20 years and then decided to do contract work around the United States.

Michael courted and married the love of his life, Charlene (Rankin) Brown.  They were bound in love on February 14, 1988 at the Norwich United Methodist Church.  They moved out to the family farm that he had grown to love.  Mike adored his family and got his greatest joy with spending time with each of them.  Grandchildren will remember him driving his riding lawnmower, while pulling them behind in the little red wagon, down to the pond to fish.  Later years they would all pile in the back of the pickup and he would drive them down the fields to fish and just hang out.

The most important thing in Mike's life became his strong faith in the Lord.  It was this faith that carried him through many trials in his lifetime and finally…right into the arms of his loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

Michael is preceded in death by his parents, Marshall and Clarice Raida and his daughter, Amy Lea Brown.  He is survived by his wife, Charlene Ann (Rankin) Raida of the home; 2 daughters; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Paula Micheau and her husband, John; brother, John Raida; 3 nieces and 1 nephew; 3 great-nieces; other relatives and many friends.

Visitation is 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday with family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral service is 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home with Pastor Leon Hiebert officiating.  Interment will follow at the Harper Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Interim Hospice and can be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058 is assisting the family with arrangements and services.