Kali and Zeke Randall Best

 

With heavy hearts, the Randall-Rihm family of Appleton, Wisconsin, shares the tragic passing of their child, Kali Jean Randall, age 38, and her beloved children, Zeke and Frey.

Kali was born in Ashland, WI, and grew up in the Fox Valley area, graduating from Hortonville High School. She received an Associate’s degree as a veterinary technician from Madison Area Technical College.

In her twenties, Randall’s adventurous spirit and love of animals and the mountains brought her west. Beginning in 2009, she made homes in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and, finally, Idaho. She was a talented photographer and silversmith, and forged deep ties within the small town of Victor, at the foot of her beloved Teton Mountains. She was an avid and skillful snowboarder, trail rider, and a licensed boat captain, spending every season out in the fierce beauty of the rugged Idaho wilderness. She took great pride in being self-sufficient, raising chickens for eggs and growing an herb garden. Since her son Zeke’s birth in January 2023, she added homemade baby foods and artisan sourdough loaves to her repertoire, inspired by her father Scott’s lifelong career as a professional baker.

Her curious energy and wanderlust knew no bounds, driving her to travel and photograph vistas as far afield as Argentina, Riviera Maya, the Dry Tortugas, and Budapest. When close to home, she worked as a silversmith. Her online shop, Kalico Forest, featured hand-tooled silver jewelry set with local gems and minerals. She photographed these pieces against wide open skies and wildflowers, crafting a compelling glimpse into her warm and vibrant life, garnering thousands of followers and customers around the globe.

As Zeke’s mama, she was a tireless and loving protector. In her own words, “During pregnancy, doubt was a constant. Then, he was here. Everything made sense instantly. How is it you're so new, yet I've known you an eternity?”

She is survived by her fathers, Scott Randall and Tom Rihm, her mother, Jean Lindisch Randall Rihm, her brother, Brian Randall, his wife, Janel, and their children, Aubrey and Jaxon, her sister, Emma Randall Brice, her husband, Adam, and their daughter, Lainey Rae, and Tom’s children, Michael Rihm, his wife Sara Rihm and Jennifer Rihm Van Dinter, and her husband Jeremy Van Dinter, and their children, Payton and Arianna.

Kali is also survived by her aunts and uncles: Pete Auvinen, Patty Randall Auvinen, Mary Lindisch Moore, Alan Moore, Carol Lindisch Krancic, James Krancic, David Lindisch, Midge Lindisch, Lawrence Paul Lindisch, Eileen Lindisch Cervantes, and Gabriel Cervantes.

Kali is also survived by her treasured cousins: Peter Auvinen and Chelsey Kroells, Cheyenne Auvinen, Charlotte Auvinen, Roy Auvinen and Emily Auvinen, Gianna Auvinen, Sarah Eva Krancic Monroe, Murphy Monroe, Foster and Milo Monroe, Megan Krancic Fischer, Christopher Fischer, Hudson, Jack, and Anabelle Fischer, Elissa Moore, Sarah Matulis, Baxter, Sullivan and Merrit Matulis, Ashley Moore Harris, Brian Harris, Marguerite, Vincent, Bernadette, and Eddie Harris, Eddie Hatfield, Leann Hatfield, Adam Hatfield, Donna Powell, Eric Powell, Ashley, Brandon and Devon Powell, Molly Cervantes Leschke, Phil Leschke, Theo and Finn Leschke, and Jillian Cervantes, Matt Wesoloski.

A Celebration of Life for Kali and her children will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Freedom’s Verkuilen – Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home (N3972 Columbia Ave., Freedom, WI 54130). Friends will be received at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. The 3:00 Central Time service will be live-streamed on the Verkuilen Van Deurzen Funeral Home Facebook page.

The family requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the family at Community First Credit Union in Appleton Wisconsin “Kali Randall and Zeke Best Legacy Fund” or via Venmo at @kalirandallzekebest