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BORN
06/24/1920
DIED
03/02/2011
Maxine Rantanen Obituary
RANTANEN,
Maxine
(Nearing)
(Age 90)
It is with great sorrow and great peace that we announce the passing of a strong, kind and loving woman on March 2, 2011 in Spokane, WA. Maxine was born June 24, 1920 in Kellogg, ID to William and Mae (Hakola) Nearing and raised in Page, ID. She married Onni Rantanen in Wallace, ID in 1937 and enjoyed 59 wonderful years with him. Onni Rantanen was an engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, and they moved to Spokane in 1945 where she lived in the same home for 66 years. Maxine was a seamstress who worked out of her home. She will be joining Onni who preceded her in death December 20, 1996 at the Hunt Cemetery in Kingston, ID with a memorial celebration of her life to follow in the spring.
Maxine is the oldest of 11 children and is survived by brothers Richard (Sandra) and Jerry Nearing (Pat) of Pinehurst, ID and sister Elva (Toots) Meredith (Gordon) of American Falls, ID; her two sons Raymond Rantanen (Ranae) of Athol, ID and Norman Rantanen (Marlene) of Fallbrook, CA; her four grandchildren Echo Rantanen of Spokane, WA, Matt Rantanen (Lynn Marie) of Aguanga, CA, Mindy (Chad) Ward of New Paris, OH and Gordy Rantanen of San Diego, CA; and four grandchildren Dawson and Skyler Ward of New Paris, OH and Taylor and Graham Roe of Aguanga, CA. She is preceded in death by sisters Mary McLeod, Genevieve (Jenny) Stott, Geraldine (Deannie) McNeal and Pearl Wilson and by brothers William (Bill) Nearing Jr., Chester Eugene (Bucko) Nearing and Bruce Nearing.
She was amazing in so many ways. Many of us have felt our waistbands expand under her famous homemade fudge, cookies and maple bars. There wasn't an outfit that she couldn't make or an alteration she couldn't do. She was head chef at the hunting camp, the nurturer of past ailing family members, the champion huckleberry picker and the thirty-card bingo player. She was our rock and our strength and we are better for being a part of her life. Mina Rakastan Sinua (Finnish for I Love You).
Memorials in her name may be sent to the Hunt Cemetery, P.O. Box 722, Pinehurst, ID. RIPLINGER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 4305 N. DIVISION, SPOKANE, WA.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Maxine Rantanen
6 Entries
Jeff Nearing
April 2, 2025
I will never forget the mournings at the hunting camp, heading out the door from the cook trailer and Maxine would be on 1 side stuffing pancakes in 1 pocket and Pearl on the other stuffing toilet paper in the other. Love and miss you auntie.
Jessica Ellis
March 16, 2011
grandma max as mica would say. I am going to miss coming back home to spokane to visit my parents and not be able to call you up and say hey max i made you something, would you stick your head out the door. I will miss your fudge, and peanut butter cookies mica loved them the most. I am glad i got to live next door to you growing up. You were the best and i am so thankful for having you next door to my parents. I wish i could tell you again thank you so much for making me the baby bouncer seat i am happy i kept it. I will always have it and will pass it down. I wish i could make it down for the service to say good bye but i am sure my parents will do that for me since my family is all in texas. I send my condolences to all the family.
Danny, Christy, and Joshua Hurst
March 6, 2011
My Dearest Auntie Maxine. I am going to miss you greatly. You always had a welcoming heart to whom ever came to your home. You always greeted every one with a smile, a pot of coffee, and the yummy baked goods. You were beautiful inside and out. Cousin Ray and Norman, Cousins Echo, Mindy, Matt, and Gordy I am so sorry for your loss. My heart and prayers go out to you. I am still in shock. She was the back bone of all of us. She sure kept us in line, lol. Love you Auntie Maxine.
Jake Douville
March 6, 2011
Very Sorry to know about your great loss. Maxine was a wonderful person. We will always miss her. Our deepest condolences are with you. We love you.
Rolfson
March 6, 2011
Dear Ray and Ranae
We are so sorry to read about Maxine's passing. Know that we are holding you in our hearts. Dennis and Tia
Jeffrey Wheeler
March 6, 2011
So sorry for your loss. Always keep a good spirit inside you and sometimes your loved ones can touch you in ways impossible to explain.
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