Nancy Mae (Johnson) Rakke

Live streaming for Nancy's service is:   https://www.youtube.com/live/zM4QYwhmW-M

Nancy Rakke, 90, of Bemidji, MN died Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Neilson Place, Bemidji.

Nancy was born January 24, 1934 in Alexandria, MN to Leon and Lois (Vennewitz) Johnson. The family moved to Bemidji when Nancy was three years old.  She attended Bemidji Lab School through sixth grade and graduated from Bemidji High School in 1952.  After high school, she attended Jamestown College, Jamestown, ND and graduated from Deaconess School of Nursing, Grand Forks, ND as an RN. She married Ellwin Rakke in 1956.  They built their Bemidji home in 1960 where they raised their three children Mark, Beth, and Kristin.  Nancy was employed at Bemidji Hospital as a nurse until she retired in 1989.

Nancy enjoyed golf, bridge, walking, knitting, working at the Food Shelf, and visiting friends.  She was very active at First Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir, served on the Altar Guild, and quilted.

She was preceded in death by husband Ellwin, son Mark, and infant son David. 

Nancy is survived by daughter Beth Rakke (Denise Thornhill) of Salt Lake City, UT, daughter Kristin (Bill) Prince of Albertville, MN, daughter-in-law Pam Rakke of Sauk Rapids, MN, grandsons Zac Rakke, Peter (Sylvia) Rakke and Isaac Rakke, brother Leon L. (Shyla) Johnson of Bemidji, former sister-in-law Marian Nelson of Roseau, MN and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held at First Lutheran Church on Friday, August 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji. Arrangements are entrusted to the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bemidji.

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