Dr. Rafael Ocejo

Rafa was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, the fourth of six children, and from an early age he knew he wanted to be a physician.

He started his medical studies in Mexico City, and he finished them in Canada, where he practiced for two decades. He moved to Bismarck in the late 1990s and worked here for 26 years, supporting the community as a neonatologist and a pediatrician.

Rafa's compassion and care for the children that he treated was unparalleled. He dedicated the majority of the hours in a day to his practice, and he loved every minute of it. Caring for the children and supporting their parents was not a job for Rafa, it was a lifestyle.

He lived his life with passion and joy, in and out of the hospital, and all of his family and friends, and the many beloved nurses that he mentored, can attest to this. When he wasn’t working, you could be sure to find him on the beach in Ixtapa.

If Rafa was here today, he would remind us all, “the only thing you take to the grave are the good times you’ve had and the good food you’ve eaten”. Like his famous guacamole.

He will be dearly missed by all. Gracias, Rafa. Te vamos a extrañar.

A visitation will be held 6-8 PM, Wednesday July 24, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.