Edna Rankinen

Edna Rankinen April 15, 1919 - December 26, 2010 Edna Rankinen, 91, Gackle, ND died Sunday evening December 26, 2010 at the Wishek Home for the Aged in Wishek, ND.

Edna Schlenker was born April 15, 1919 south of Gackle, ND, the daughter of William and Barbara (Muller) Schlenker. She attended the local rural schools where she received her elementary education and grew to womanhood in the vicinity.

She and Alfred H. Rankinen were married November 28, 1943 at Gackle, ND. They made their home on a farm SW of Gackle until 1956 when they moved into Gackle. She worked as a cook at the Gackle Café for 22 years. Following the death of her husband August 20, 1989, she continued to reside in Gackle until October 6, 2010 when she entered the Wishek Home for the Aged.

She was a member of the First United Church of Christ, the Guiding Light Society and served as a Sunday school teacher, the Progressive Homemakers, the Literary Guild, the Women's Bowling Association, and the League of Democratic Women.

She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Michael, Mesa, AZ; 1 grandson, Benjamin (Pearl) Michael, San Tan Valley, AZ; 1 great granddaughter and 1 great grandson, Azalia and Rubin Michael, San Tan Valley, AZ; 1 sister, Annetta (Rev. Oliver) Ketterling, Glendora, CA. She is also survived by the following step sisters and brother, Lenora Heller, Gackle, ND; Delores Roberts, TX and Arthur Hehn, Colorado Springs, CO.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and numerous brothers and sisters.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Monday January 3, 2011 in the First United Church of Christ at Gackle, ND with Rev. Bernie Jasken, officiating.

The interment will be made in the Gackle Cemetery at Gackle, ND, in the spring.

Visitation - Sunday 1-7 at the Funeral Home in Gackle.

Video Remembrance -http://videos.lifetributes.com/185915