Mabel Rantanen, 91, died on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 at Hillcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Abundant Life Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Wesley Langaas officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with an 8:00 PM prayer service on Friday, February 11, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Saturday at the church.

Mabel F. Strandberg was born on July 11, 1919 the daughter of Harry and Anna (Larson) Strandberg. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and grew up on the family farm west of Newfolden, MN along with her seven brothers and sisters.

Mabel attended country school through the eighth grade. As the oldest of eight children she learned the value of hard work, by helping raise her siblings and work with the chores on the farm.

She left the farm at an early age and worked several places a farm near Alvarado, MN, housekeeping jobs, Montgomery Ward and Ben Franklin in Thief River Falls, a waitress in Grand Forks, ND and at Munsingwear in Minneapolis.

While at the airport in Thief River Falls, Mabel met her future husband, Martin Rantanen and they were married on June 7, 1953 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. They settled in the Middle River, MN area and to this union three children were born, Dennis, LeMar and Reta. Mabel enjoyed being a loving wife and mother and raised their children in the faith. They were members of the First Lutheran Church in Middle River.

In 1966 the family moved to Thief River Falls to be closer to Martins work at the airport. In 1969, Mabel went to work at Arctic Enterprises in the sewing department, and then worked at the main plant until it closed. Martin died on January 26, 1980 and Mabel continued to live in Thief River Falls until moving to rural Newfolden with her daughter, Reta and family, where she lived the last few years.

Mabel was a member of Abundant Life Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls where she was active with the ladies circle. She enjoyed traveling, growing flowers especially geraniums and African violets, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Dennis (Tammy) Rantanen, LeMar Rantanen all of Thief River Falls, Reta Rantanen Bring (Roger Bring) of Newfolden, MN; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Allison, Jason and Joshua Rantanen, Dustin Carpenter, Logan and Mason Bring; 3 great grandchildren; several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; sisters, Daphne (Bernard) Tabery of Eagan, MN and LuAnn (Charles) Chaplinski of Middle River, MN; sister-in-law, Margaret Strandberg of Newfolden, MN; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Martin; parents; brothers and sisters, Harriet Engen, Medill Strandberg, Orville Strandberg, Kermit Strandberg and Vinette Strandberg.

ACCOMPANIST: Eunice Grothe
SOLOIST: Eunice Waterworth Does Jesus Care & He The Pearly Gates Will Open
SOLOIST: Jeff Liden On Eagles Wings
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Just As I Am & Blessed Assurance
PALLBEARERS: Dustin Carpenter, Logan Bring, Joel Robinette, Karl Bring, Patrick Mayernik, Mike Lorenson