In Memoriam: LaRayne K. Oltz, CRNA (1946-2026)

LaRayne K. Oltz, CRNA, of Whitefish, Montana, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026, surrounded by family and friends.

Born November 28, 1946, in St. James, Minnesota, her passion for service led to a lifelong career as a CRNA, which began at the Mayo Clinic Minnesota Nurse Anesthetist Program. It was there that she met her husband of 56 years, Tafford Oltz, CRNA. 

 In 1980, the couple began a 14-year federal court battle, the verdict of which helped CRNAs preserve their jobs throughout the United States. The court case, Oltz v. St. Peter’s Community Hospital et al., centered on the fact that an exclusive contract of anesthesia services damaged competition and consumers and constituted an illegal restraint of trade under antitrust law. In separate appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld liability and work-life damages. 

This landmark decision was the first to establish the right of a CRNA to compete for anesthesia patients and recognized the right to engage in private practice. 

In 1996, AANA honored Tafford and LaRayne with its Clinical Anesthesia Practitioner Award, and in 2012 they received AANA’s Ira P. Gunn Award for Professional Advocacy. 

In addition to Tafford, LaRayne is survived by their children TJ Oltz (Beth), Kim Schumann, Jen Weinard (Brad) and Jeremy Oltz; grandchildren Jonathan Oltz (Kelsey), Alicia Oltz and Rebecca Shuck (Billy); great-grandchildren Rylee, Casey and Bradley; siblings Allan Lunz (Bruce Kauk) and Barb Lunz; and her Griff pack: Parazzi, Higgins and Pip. 

 The family will host a memorial service at a later date.