Raymond Scott Biden

Raymond Scott Biden, 65, was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, to Sharon and Raymond Biden. The second oldest of six children, he spent much of his childhood in Lansing, Illinois, where he attended Thornwood High School and discovered an early love of cars and automotive repair. He was known as Scott in his early years, and Scottie to his grandmother. After serving briefly in the United States Marine Corps, he lived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he attended Forsyth Technical Community College and honed the skills that would shape much of his working life. Over the years, he became a gifted mechanic and engine rebuilder. His interests occasionally led him in other directions, including a brief venture into real estate, where he proudly earned his Nevada real estate license. Ultimately, however, he always returned to what he loved most: working on engines, or “wrenching,” as he liked to call it. He generously shared what he knew with others. He seemed to know a little about everything and was always ready with advice, a story, or an opinion. He had a remarkable natural talent for understanding how things worked and how they could be improved, repaired, or made useful again. Whether it was rebuilding an automotive engine or something simple around the house, he was often the person family and friends called when something needed fixing or when they just wanted a good laugh. In the early 1990s, he moved to Utah, where he spent most of the next 30 years working at several automotive shops. He contributed to their success and mentored the mechanics who worked alongside him, always happy to pass on his craft. It was around this time that he became known to many as Ray. He was a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews and enjoyed being with them. With a gift for making people feel valued, capable, and important, he was often the first to offer encouragement, a compliment, or a story that left everyone laughing. Humble by nature, he always found joy in simple things, helping others, and hunting for hidden treasures. Whether at a thrift store, a garage sale, or an online marketplace, he loved the thrill of a great deal and was always eager to tell others about it. With a strong Christian faith, he believed deeply in God. One of the scriptures he cherished and often quoted from memory was Proverbs 16:17: “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” He was preceded in death by his parents, Sharon and Raymond Biden; grandparents, Leo and Dora Anderson, and George and Bonnie Biden; aunt, Marilyn Anderson; cousin, Naomi Solem; brother-in-law, Brian Barkwell; and beloved brother, Samuel J. Kooy. He is survived by his three sisters, Wendy Petitto, Susan Barkwell, and MarySue Simmons (Ronald); one brother, Joshua Kinzie (Esther); aunt, Valerie Solem (Peter); cousins, Robert Solem, Andrew Solem (Miranda), and Rebekah Solem; nephews, Mitchell Tingey (Paige), Grant Tingey (Rian), Andrew Tingey, and Brandon Barkwell; nieces, McKenzie Tingey-Botakis (Matthew), Brittany Barkwell, and Lissette Kinzie; great-nieces, Sophie, Lucy, and Covey Tingey; great-nephew, Tyson Tingey; along with many dear friends whose lives were made brighter by knowing him. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, kindness, humility, willingness to help others, and, above all, his unique ability to make life a little lighter for those around him. If you knew him, you probably knew his laugh, the kind of belly laugh that made people want to laugh right along with him. To some, he was Scott. To some, he was Ray. To his nieces and nephews, he was simply Uncle. He was a hoot, truly a special human, deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

Raymond Scott Biden

November 24, 1960 - June 6, 2026