Dr. Ranheim

Dr. Richard Oliver Ranheim, 78, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, from complications following recent surgery. Dr. Ranheim was born to the late Clifford and Judith Berneill Ranheim on October 13, 1935 in rural Hutchinson, MN. He received an undergraduate degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and followed that with a medical degree from Baylor Medical School. He met the late Laurie Jean Coco Ranheim while in medical school, and they were married on August 25, 1962. As a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force, Richard served overseas in Okinawa and Moscow, and domestically in Washington, DC and Albuquerque, NM. Returning to the United States, he opened a medical practice in Mansura, La. in 1973 and for forty years was a General and Family Practitioner. He loved working with the people of Avoyelles Parish and met his stated intention of never retiring from his practice. He took pride in an old fashioned approach to medicine and was known for taking care of the needs of everyone in the community, regardless of their ability to afford services. He had a wide range of interests including politics, history, wine, conversation and listening to his impressive collection of classical and jazz music. Dr. Ranheim also loved spending time with his grandchildren, as long as there wasnt an LSU game on at the time. Dr. Ranheim is survived by three children and their spouses: Robert O. Ranheim and Jennifer Covell of Brooklyn, NY, Todd S. and Janet Lee Ranheim of Florence, Italy, and Susan V. Ranheim and Steven J. Salm of New Orleans, La. He is also survived by his sister and brotherinlaw, Marg and Jay Friedberg, and six grandchildren: Jackson and Kirsten Ranheim, Emma and Caitlin Ranheim, and Sebastian and Dominic Salm.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Phillip Ranheim. His family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, February 7, 2014 from 10am to 1pm, at Escude Funeral Home, Mansura, La. followed by a memorial service at 1pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in the name of Dr. Richard O. Ranheim, to Baylor College of Medicine. The Ranheim family will be collecting the donations to establish a scholarship fund to help support the training of future physicians PO Box 510, Mansura La.