Ransom "Ran" Varney

Broken Bow, NE – Ransom “Ran” Varney age 78 of Broken Bow, died Sunday January 8, 2017 at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.   Funeral services will be held on Thursday January 12, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday January 11, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.  A rosary service will be held at 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary.  Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or the Custer County Foundation.       Ransom (Ran) Dennis Varney, along with twin brother Michael Varney, was born May 14, 1938 at the Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Norfolk, Nebraska to Edgar and Dorothy (Welte) Varney. The family lived in Norfolk until early 1939 when they moved to Ainsworth for Edgar’s work. In 1941 they moved to Broken Bow to be closer to Dorothy’s family. It was at this time Edgar took a job as a pharmacist with Dr. Landis at Landis Drug. Ran and his brother Mike were the first of 4 boys born to Edgar and Dorothy with Tim coming along 4 years after the twins and Matthew 4 years after Tim. Ran attended Broken Bow grade school, Jr. High and High School graduating with the class of 1956. Ran enjoyed every aspect of school participating in sports, music, art, and academics. After graduation Ran first attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, majoring in engineering. He continued on this path until January of 1958 when he decided to join Mike at Chadron State College where he graduated in 1961 with a business degree. During the summer of 1961 Ran worked for the State Department of Roads and even though he enjoyed this work it was at this time he made the decision to follow in his father’s footsteps and attend Pharmacy College. Ran started Pharmacy College in Lincoln in 1961 and became a Registered Pharmacist in 1965, a career he loved and practiced for the next 50 years. Ran started working at Varney Rexall Drug following graduation. Ran worked closely with his parents in 1973 when they purchased the former Meston Motor building, demolishing it to erect a new structure at the junction of state highways 2 and 21. This new Varney Rexall Drug Center opened in April 1974. In 1978 Ran purchased the business from his father and made significant changes to the business to meet the changing needs of pharmacy. In 1988 Varney Rexall became Varney HealthMart. Ran sold the business to Marge Trythall in February 2005. Ran and Marge had worked side-by-side since she joined the staff in 1981. Ran was extremely pleased to be able to sell the business to Marge and to be able to keep it as an “independent owned pharmacy”. After selling the business Ran continuing practicing pharmacy as a relief pharmacist at Barmore Drug in Lexington, Right Drug in Callaway, and at Holcomb Pharmacy in Broken Bow.   One of Ran’s many interests was music.  During his college years he organized and played in 2 Rock n Roll bands….The Challengers and The Kountdowns. The posters said it best when they advertised “The Chilling Sounds of the Challengers”. He shared his love of music with his brothers Tim and Matt who also played in the bands. One of the highlights of his rock n roll years was playing with Rock n Roll musician, Del Shannon and his band while performing in South Dakota.   Anyone who knew Ran was aware of his love of the railroad and anything related to trains. He and his twin Mike spent many hours traveling to and photographing trains, depots and any railroad activity. Whenever the two of them could get away at the same time they would be following trains to photograph. Their pictures have preserved an era we will never again experience. Special friend and railroad author Francis G’Schwind and Ran spent many afternoons and weekends doing what they referred to as “chasing trains”.   In 1980 Ran and Nancy Ferguson started their lives together. Their home was always filled with family, pets, friends, pets, commitment to each other and did we mention pets. Many homeless dogs and cats found a forever home with them. Ran and Nancy completed each other’s lives.   Ran loved Broken Bow and strived to contribute to it through his involvement in many civic and professional organizations. A few of them included the Broken Bow Chamber Board, the Jaycees, the CNCS Board of Directors, the Loup Basin Health Department Board of Directors, and the Knights of Columbus. Ran belonged to many pharmacy professional organizations and enjoyed attending pharmacy conventions, trainings and seminars. Ran was elected to the Custer County Board of Supervisors and served District 3 from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2014. He loved this experience and was especially pleased to serve alongside former classmate, Larry Hickenbottom. Ran spent his entire life with the St. Joseph Catholic Church family. His unwavering faith was apart of who he was.   Ran was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include Nancy, brothers Mike (Joy) Varney; Tim (Mari) Varney; and Matthew (Nancy) Varney. Ran especially loved his nieces and nephews. They are Mark and Sheila Varney & family, Jeff and Cathy Marsh & family, Jeff and Shari Prince and family, David and Michele Varney and family; Dr. Bob and Stephanie Bossart  and family, Myron and Julie Cunningham and family, Jeff Varney and Patrick and Nikki Varney and family.