Former Lake Forest Park mayor and city council member Dick Rainforth passed away on Tuesday, July 7 at the age of 87.
Friends and colleagues will remember him as a humble man who achieved a lot during his years of service to the city. As a man who expected a lot from the people around him, he was gentle in nature and had fun with his job as mayor.
“His service to the city (as a mayor and council member) is one of a number of ways in which he served the community,” said Roger Loschen, a good friend who served on the council with Rainforth and succeeded him as mayor. “He was one of the major civic leaders of this relatively young city.”
Rainforth first moved to Lake Forest Park in 1960 when he was stationed as a commanding officer at Sand Point Naval Air Station. He dutifully served his city, first as a council member from 1975 to 1983, and then as mayor for two terms from 1984 to 1991.
Loschen recalled how his friend decided to run for mayor. After then mayor Ben Cashman decided not to run for reelection in 1983, he explained, three city council members met to determine which of them would replace him. Gordon Hungar, Rainforth and Loschen, the three council members, all looked around at each other, wondering who would step forward and decide to run.
“Dick was the first one to flinch,” said Loschen. He won the election later that year.
His service to the city might best be remembered for his contributions in helping to build an extension to the old City Hall building. Rainforth used a power saw and put a lot of work into the building himself. He even sacrificed his body for the betterment of the city. The power saw ended up cutting off the tip of his finger one day.
Rainforth was born in 1922, and he grew up on a farm in Nebraska. His dream of becoming a pilot came to fruition when he flew planes with the United States Marine Corps and received numerous decorations. He fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War before he retired as a brigadier general and joined the reserves.
Outside of his service to his city and country, Rainforth was very activity in the greater Lake Forest Park community. He was heavily involved with Rotary International, he served as a consultant for the Museum of Flight and he was a former Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts.
Rainforth is survived by his wife Eve and their three children: Mary Lee Walsh, Ken Rainforth and Russ Rainforth.
A memorial service for Dick Rainforth will be held at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church on Saturday, July 18th at 1 p.m.
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