Mahala Belle Rankin Obituary
Mahala Belle (nee Biegemann) Rankin (known to some as Halla Belle or Mike) joined her beloved husband, Gordon, treasured son Paul, and other family saints on May 22, 2024. Following a fall at 93, she was thoughtfully cared for by the staff from Brighton Hospice and Lakewood Assisted Living, in Brookfield.
Mahala was born on March 18, 1931 in Waukesha, WI to the late Jessie (nee Stillwell) and Arthur Biegemann. She came home to three older brothers and grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm in Genesee Township. As a young girl she often accompanied her mother and grandmother to the Waukesha Green Market to sell produce and in later years continued the tradition selling alpaca yarn and hats spun from her own herd at the Delafield and Brookfield Farmers Markets.
At age five she began violin lessons which grew into a lifelong passion. Every morning before school, her mother would accompany Mahala on the piano while she practiced her lesson for half an hour. She attended Joint District #12 Pointville School, a one room schoolhouse, walking a mile and a half up hill both ways, riding bikes with her brothers or catching a ride with the Honey Acre truck that picked up cans of milk from the farm.
Mahala graduated from Waukesha High School in 1949 where she participated in Future Homemakers of America and the orchestra. She was employed as a checker at Kroger on Main Street in Waukesha, then as a factory worker at RTE, but spent the bulk of her life farming alongside her husband.
On May 23, 1953 Mahala married her husband Gordon Rankin. While their two young children were in school, she did farm presentations, gave tours, and wrote stories about farm life. She enjoyed working the fields, baling hay, and raising ducks, geese and 500 chickens a year. When her son Paul was fatally injured in an auto accident in 1980, she poured her sorrow into learning about liquid stained glass and created the windows at Lisbon United Presbyterian Church.
Mahala's dedication to her community and church was admirable. She was a member of Country Life Club, Homemakers president, a 4-H leader, and Waukesha County Farm Bureau Women's Treasurer (managing their Florida fruit program for 18 years). She taught Sunday School, sang in church choirs from age 14, accompanied countless worship services with violin, and played handbells. She was an Elder and Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, Chair of the Worship Committee, and Financial Secretary and Treasurer for 18 years. She also served as Treasurer of the Lisbon Central Cemetery Association for 31 years. She remained active as part of the Fun Luv'n Grannies of Brookfield and on the Waukesha County Fair Senior Board in retirement. She entertained at nursing homes, playing violin with her brother, LeRoy on accordion.
Mahala leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. She will be greatly missed by her daughter, Margaret (Steve) Sutton; her grandchildren who were her greatest joys, Stephanie Sutton (Shawn Kozey), Katherine Sutton Malek (Nate), Jennifer Sutton, Kristina Sutton, Michelle Sutton Eibergen (Cory), and Jaclynn Sutton; and her great-grandchildren Caleb, Easton, and Micah Kozey, Noah and Violet Malek, and Leena Eibergen.
Should you wish to contribute a memorial for Mahala, please consider a charity dear to your heart or the Paul Rankin Memorial Scholarship Fund (created 43 years ago for the purpose of christian ministry, music, and charity).
Visitation will be Tuesday May 28, 2024 at Living Hope Presbyterian Church, W156N4881 Pilgrim Rd. in Menomonee Falls, from 1pm until time of service at 3pm.
