Richard Rankin (Hassheider) Hall

Richard Rankin (Hassheider) Hall, 91, passed away at Hot Springs Health Hospital with his son by his side.

Dick was born August 8, 1930, in Tarrant County, (Fort Worth), Texas, and was immediately adopted by J. Harry and Cora E. (Rankin) Hassheider of Shiprock, N. M.

An eternal optimist, Dick was married four times including Shirley Scholz, Sharon Liesch, Barbara Nobel and Joy Stout, all of Thermopolis.

The day after graduating from Thermopolis High School in 1948 he joined the US Navy. He spent 28 months in the Korean Theater of Operations on the aircraft carrier, USS Boxer CV-21. He was honorably discharged in 1952 as a Quartermaster Third Class.

Upon discharge he attended the University of Wyoming graduating in 1957 with a degree in journalism and a commission in the US Army Reserves. Dick spent the next years as a member of the US Army Security Agency, retiring after 22 years of total service as a Major. Several years later he took a civilian job at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. He retired again after five years as a GS11.He then worked for Tucson Newspapers Incorporated and spent another five years there followed again by retirement. Dick often joked he would keep retiring until he got it right! Somewhere along the way, Dick found time to return to UW, obtaining a Masters in Adult Education. This followed by several years in Newcastle, Wyo., as the Community Education Director.

Dick moved back to Thermopolis in 2001 and paid his dues by serving a 4 year tour on the Thermopolis Town Council, two terms on the County Museum board, Commander of VFW Post 2281 and President of the Wyoming Chapter of the Western Music Association, among other things. He was a member of Federated Community Church, enjoyed writing, reading poetry and being  a social butterfly.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan Miller, of Casper; son, Stephen Hassheider, of Thermopolis; and step-son, William Shield, of Cheyenne. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Deborah Jean Hassheider, and son, Richard Ross Hassheider – both having succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis at an early age.

Cremation has taken place. A Remembrance Service will be announced at a later date. Interment will be a family affair.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Messages may be offered at http://www.mortfh.com.