Dr. Donald Albert Ritchie, MD, 83

Rice, formerly of Saint Cloud

Dec. 19, 1931 - Dec. 1, 2015

A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Dr. Donald A. Ritchie, MD, age 83, of Rice, formerly of St. Cloud, will be at 10:30 AM on Monday, December 7, 2015 at Harvest Fellowship Church in Sauk Rapids. Pastor Larry Siekawitch will officiate and burial will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Don passed away in his home early Tuesday morning after a long battle with amyloidosis and heart failure. There will be a visitation for family and friends after 9:00 AM on Monday, December 7, 2015 at Harvest Fellowship Church in Sauk Rapids. Don hopes people will gather to celebrate his life, not mourn his death; and to rejoice he's with his Lord.

Donald was born on December 19, 1931 to Albert and Evelyn (Erickson) Ritchie in Rockford, IL. He grew up with his brother John and graduated from Rockford High School in 1949. After graduation, he moved to Wisconsin, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. Education was important to him and brought him back to Illinois where he completed four years of medical school before entering the military. Don served with the United States Army from 1957-1960 as a flight surgeon. He completed two active duty internships and was selected for the Nikita Khrushchev Mission. From 1960-1964 he was doing post-grad OB/GYN work in Nebraska. Don moved to St. Cloud in 1964 and began working at the Women and Children's Medical Center as an OB/GYN. He was a pioneer in his field and was the first physician to travel to Canada for training on amniocenteses and in 1965 he performed the first successful intrauterine blood transfusion in the Midwest. Don worked hard to bring the YMCA to St. Cloud, he would arm wrestle for donations, and was the first president. He felt it was his legacy. Don was a board member and actively involved in Make-A-Wish at both the state and national levels. Over his career, Don took 15 trips to Guatemala with the HELPS Organization bringing surgical and medical help to people in need. Don was very athletic, had participated in football and wrestling in high school, and enjoyed attending grandkids' sporting events. His first love was nature and he was a decorated Eagle Scout. He enjoyed being outdoors and gardening. Don lived for his dogs and had rescued many animals over the years. He liked a variety of music, but Elvis' gospel music was a favorite. Don was man of solid faith who loved his relationship with his Holy Father and Jesus and was an active member of Harvest Church in Sauk Rapids. He will be remembered fondly by the many people he touched over his lifetime.

Don is survived by his wife of three years Elaine Ritchie, Rice; his children Kristin (Pierre) Bott, France; Karen (Harvey) Hudson, Papillion, NE; Tom (Sharon) Ritchie, Becker; his longtime family friend Frank Malecha, St. Cloud; his stepchildren Michael Moline, Sartell; Mark (Jill) Moline, Sauk Rapids; Matthew Moline, Chaska; his grandchildren Kathleen, Kyle, Erin, Ingrid, Signe, Geraldine, Amanda, Anna, Steven, Elizabeth, and Erik; his great-grandchildren Emily, Christian, Kari, Juliana, and Britta; Kris, Karen, and Tom's mother Carolyn Taylor, Ashland, NE; his furry family Alex, a golden retriever; Shaylee, a Shi-Tzu; and Shadow, a blind black lab; as well as many other family and friends. There are many people special to Don: the doctors, nurses, and all support staff - to name a few. To those who knew him - know you mattered.

He is preceded in death by his parents Albert and Evelyn Ritchie and his brother John Ritchie.

Don's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Home Instead for taking such great care of him.

Memorials are preferred to HELPS International (15301 Dallas Pkwy # 200, Addison, TX 75001); TriCounty Humane Society (735 8th St NE, St Cloud, MN 56304); Make-A-Wish (Gift Processing 4742 North 24th Street, Suite 400 Phoenix, AZ 85016); and Boy Scouts of America (1191 Scout Dr, Sartell, MN 56377).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Cloud Times on Dec. 5, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Ritchie

4 Entries

December 7, 2015

So sorry to hear of my uncle 's passing. We will always remember our younger years and fun times visiting. Our visits to Chicago, were always memorable. Memories will always stay with us. GOD BLESS YOU, DON Mary Lynn & John

Tom Olinger

December 7, 2015

I will never forget what a fine man Don Ritchie was. He left an indelible mark on my life and it shaped the man I became. I will miss him very much. My love to all the Ritchie's

Mike Donohue

December 6, 2015

Don Ritchie was special kind of guy. We met first when we were both starting practice in St Cloud. Don's practice was medicine, mine law. That was in the early '60's. We remained friends all of the years since. Not as active in these later years, we were separated by city and I was impeded by illness.

As I remember Don I remember him best through his separate acts of kindness. He showed in what he did so many times a distinct level of compassion not often seen in other men. Don strongly felt for others and he showed that often.

I remember incidents like: I don't recall what I did for him other than one day coming to the office to find a case of wine he left for me. A group I was in organized a trip to Canada to fish. During the trip my finding myself is activities in which I had no experience, it was Don who both guided me and looked out for me. He graciously examined clients involved in lawsuits about gynecological problems for me. On one of these, returning a favor I had done for him he refused to charge a fee. There was a huge discrepancy between the value of the favor done him and service provided by him.

I could cite many more such incidents, particularly those he befriended with his kindness, or those organizations to which he belonged whose singular purpose was do to for others, but will leave it with this. Unlike so many I knew in the professions his compassion and empathy shone over all others.

Don lived a long and good life. Not without problems. He had many confronting him, he also confronted and certainly conquered them. His life was nonetheless a good one and the world is richer for him having been in it.

Pat Sell

December 6, 2015

So sorry to hear the news of Don's passing. He was a good friend, neighbor and mentor to me.

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