Ranta, Alma (1883 - 1954)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ranta, DeLong, Davis

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 12/30/1954

Ranta, Alma (1883 - Dec 1954)

Funeral services were held for Mrs. Alma Ranta Dec. 22, 1954 from Griebenow Funeral Home with Rev. John Saarinen officiating.  Mrs. Ranta passed away shortly after entering the Memorial Hospital at Stanley.  She had been in poor health for many years.

She was born at Saarijarvi, Finland, in 1883, being 71 years of age at the time of her passing.  She came to America with her husband in 1911, first settling in Virginia, Minn., later moving to a farm they owned and operated south of Owen (Clark Co., Wis.) on DD.

Pallbearers were Henry Cass, Victor Matilla, Arthur Laine, Otto Johnson, Walfred Havelin and Carl Stenman.  In charge of flowers were Mrs. Henry Cass, Mrs. Arne Holopainen, Mrs. Otto Johnson and Mrs. Walfred Havelin.

The ladies of the church sang with Mrs. John Saarinen at the organ.  Her husband, Herman, preceded her in death last July.

She leaves to mourn her pasting, one son, Tauno of Owen, two daughters, Mrs. Ronald (Vieno) DeLong of Owen, Mrs. Lawrence (Jean) Davis of Chicago, Ill., and one grandson.

*Both Herman and Alma are buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Hixon Twp., Clark Co., Wisconsin.

The Family of Herman & Alma Ranta

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ranta and children Tauno and Vienno

(photo provided by Helen Blaha)
 

Family Notes

1930 Federal Census, Longwood, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, District: 0022, Family 184, Line 5

Herman Ranta, white married male
Birth Year (Estimated): 1886
Birthplace: Finland
Immigration Year: 1911
Father's Birthplace: Finland
Mother's Birthplace: Finland

Household Members
Head Herman Ranta M 44 Finland
Wife Elma Ranta F 48 Finland
Son Qauna Ranta M 18 Finland
Daughter Vienna Ranta F 16 Minnesota
Daughter Jenni Ranta F 14 Wisconsin

 1917-1918 World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards

Herman Ranta, Single, Naturalized citizen, weak legs, poor eyes

No previous military service

Short stature, stout build, blue eyes and brown hair

Born: 1 June, 1886
Event Place: Marquette County no 2, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 01 Jun 1886
Birthplace: Himangon, Waasanr Lasni, Finland
Nationality: Finland

Occupation: Crusher man for Empire Iron Company, Palmer, Marquette, Michigan

Signed by Aolexander Holmi, 5 June 1917

Biographical Information

Mrs. Alma Ranta (born Alma Adolfina Rautiainen) is my great grandfathers sister. She was born in Saarijärvi Finland November 10th 1878 as a first born child to Emanuel and Amanda Rautiainen. She moved from Saarijärvi to capital city of Finland, Helsinki in April 1902. She got married to a baker Herman Rantanen in Helsinki in April 1909.

Her husband Herman Rantanen immigrated first. He departed March 15th1911 from Hanko, Finland to Copenhagen Denmark. From there he departured March 23rd 1911, ocean liner S.S. United States arrived at the port of New York April 4th 1911.

http://photos.geni.com/p13/59/e9/25/59/5344483cc69980a1/herman_rantanen_list_of_alien_passengers_line_29_original.jpg

Meanwhile in Finland Mrs. Alma Adolfina Rantanen gave birth in Helsinki to a baby boy in June 1911. Boy was called Tauno.

Later in that summer, August 11th 1911 Alma and infant Tauno left Finland too, first they travelled from Hanko, Finland to England. From Southampton they departed August 26th 1911, ocean liner S.S. St. Louis arrived at the port of New York September 2nd 1911.

Certainly Mr. Herman Ranta was pleased to reunite with his wife and see first time his son Tauno, who was born two months after Herman left Finland.

They changed their family name Rantanen to a shorter form “Ranta” after arriving New York.

http://photos.geni.com/p13/65/61/55/d3/5344483cc69dd194/alma_adolfina_rantanen_list_of_alien_passengers_line_11_original.jpg

According to my grandmother, her father, my great grandfather Sulo Armas Rautiainen received letters from his sister Alma. She told in those letters about life of Ranta family in the United States. These letters kept coming until late 1940´s they suddenly stopped. Since that any news about Ranta family was never heard.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed this web page and told my grandmother about it. She remembered that besides their son Tauno, Herman and Alma had two girls.

Unfortunately all of those letters have disappeared during years.

However my grandmother found one picture of her cousin Tauno. There are two men in that picture, my grandmother told me that the taller man is Tauno. There is also text behind the picture; “April 1944 Chicago del...” a couple of addresses and two names Ronald Delong and Tauno Ranta. I believe the other man in that picture is Ronald Delong, Taunos sister Vieno Ranta’s husband.

So please, if you have any information about descendants of Alma and Herman Ranta; and if you can contact them, please pass this e-mail to them. So they can contact me if they are willing to hear more about their Finnish origin. Also, it would be great for me to know something about relatives living in U.S.A.

Yours sincerely

Teemu Salo

Alma Ranta’s great great nephew

teemu.salo@pp4.inet.fi