David Ranney

David T. Ranney "Dave Sr.", age 94, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at his residence in Wheaton.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Pianist will be Cheryl Shekleton with special music by granddaughter Sarah Medina.

Visitation will be held Sunday, October 13th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Monday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Interment with military rites will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Carolyn and J.C. Larson, Kris and Ron Wirtjes, Julie and Vaughn Maudal, Janet and Allen Weick, Carol and John Lundquist, and Annie and Jacob Veldhouse. Honorary Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the Wheaton Fire Department and members of the Merton Dale American Legion Post #80.

David Thomas Ranney was born July 20, 1925 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Thomas Kerr Ranney and Ruth Margaret (Davidson) Ranney. He grew up in Wheaton and spent time in the summers at his uncle’s farms near Benson. In his teens, David was an avid hunter and guide for many Minneapolis hunters that came to the Wheaton area to hunt ducks and geese, to the dismay of his teachers, as Dave was often late for school. David’s father Thomas Kerr Ranney died in 1939 when David was just thirteen. David grew up in a musical family (his father was the Tri State Band Director) and David played in many bands in his youth and through adulthood. He played in David Ranney and the Rhythm Kings, 6 Kernals, Tri State Band, North Dakota Legion Band, Slats Campbell, and numerous other bands as a trumpet player. David also played Taps for hundreds of funerals. David graduated from Wheaton High School in 1943. He was allowed to graduate high school early to enlist in the Navy during World War II. He served in the United States Navy from March of 1943 until his honorable discharge in 1945. While serving in the Navy and on short leave he married Harriet “Che-Che” LeCuyer on August 1, 1944 in Minneapolis. From 1945 until 1946 Dave served in the Merchant Marine.

Following his discharge, he furthered his education at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota both in Minneapolis and received his degree in Mortuary Science in 1947. He returned to Wheaton and with a $2,000 loan from his mother he started Ranney’s Furniture and Flooring which he owned and operated for the next fifty years.

Dave was very active in his community serving on the Wheaton Fire Department (22 years), Wheaton Community Hospital Board (9 years), Wheaton City Council (9 years), past Commander and member of the Wheaton American Legion (60 years), member of the Chamber of Commerce and past president, Wheaton Golf Course board member and past president, licensed funeral director since 1947 and was the past president of the Minnesota District Funeral Directors Association. He was nominated by the Jaycees as Jaycee of the year for the State of Minnesota, he was the past director of the Community First Bank in Wheaton (22 years), and a member of Traverse Masonic Lodge #189 and Shrine. Dave owned and operated the ambulance service for the Wheaton area for twenty years. David was a past Boys Scout Master and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, being just the second young man in Wheaton to do so.

David’s sons followed him in the family business. Tom started working for the Funeral Home in 1969 and son David followed in 1975. After a short illness Tom passed away in 1983. David and CheChe enjoyed retirement traveling to Maui, Hawaii and other destinations. CheChe passed away Christmas morning 2002.

David married Ronda Rittenour on October 24, 2009. David was instrumental in Ronda going back to school for massage therapy and took great pride in her success. David and Ronda enjoyed traveling as well. After trying numerous winter destinations, they eventually settled on a condo in Fort Myers, Florida.

His favorite quote was “together is a wonderful place to be”. David would often say how blessed he was to have two special women in his life. He knew how lucky he was to have had a long, healthy life.

David is survived by his wife Ronda of Wheaton; son David J. (Betty) Ranney of Wheaton; and daughter Mary (Norman) Jarrells of Lancaster, SC; step-children: Brent (Tina) and Brooke (Tim); thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

David was preceded in death by his parents; wife Harriet “CheChe”; son Tom; infant daughter Virginia; brother John “Jack” Ranney; and sister Helen Wilson.