Becoming American Museum Exhibit

Gold Level: Mary & Leela Rai

Honoree: Mary Rai

Donors: David & Leela Rai

Born in Arizona to a Punjabi Sikh father and Mexican American mother, Mary Rai is a unique and important member of Punjabi history in the United States. After serving in the British military, Rai’s father, Bishan Singh (Gill), came to America in 1909. At first he did a variety of jobs. Singh worked on railroads throughout Northern California, did agricultural work in the Stockton area, and planted cotton in the Imperial Valley. He finally settled down in Arizona, where he raised cotton. There he was introduced to Ernestine Zuniga. Together they had five children, including Mary.

Mary was raised Catholic, but retained much of her father’s Punjabi heritage. She graduated high school in Tollison, Arizona, a town just outside of Phoenix. Due to water shortages in Arizona, cotton farmers, including Rai’s family, were forced to relocate; many moved across the California border to the Imperial Vally. There, Mary met her husband, Lal Singh Rai, with whom she moved to Yuba City and raised two children, David and Leela. In Yuba City, Rai was among only a handful of women in the Punjabi community. She took her children to both the church and the Sikh temple. Rai kept her Catholic religion and Punjabi Sikh culture, passing on this blend to her son and daughter.

Besides raising a family, Rai always assisted with her family’s farming operation, doing odd jobs and serving as the business secretary. These days, she takes care of leases for the properties her family owns and handles a number of real estate investments. Rai has always been a dedicated member of St. Isidore Catholic Church in Yuba City, where she continues to reside.