Vida Fern Jorstad Rankin (1908-2008)

RANKIN, JORSTAD, BLOCHOWITZ, GARMS, CARTWRIGHT, DUNLAP

Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 10/31/2008 at 12:38:28

THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, October 30, 2008.

Vida Fern Jorstad Rankin, a longtime Colo, Iowa, resident, died at Boone, Iowa, on October 26, 2008, at the age of 100. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m. at the Colo United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at the church 2 hours prior to the service. Burial will be at the Colo Cemetery following the service.

Vida was born, along with her twin sister Viola, on August 8, 1908, to Della and Jonas Jorstad in Tracy, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm near McCallsburg, Iowa, and graduated from McCallsburg High School. She went to Chicago to attend the Francis Willard Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated in 1932. She married Dr. Meriden L. Rankin on October 20, 1933. She did private duty nursing while raising her four children. She was active in the Evangelical United Brethren which later united with the Methodist Church, World Outlook Club, Isabelle Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Garden Club and Dalton Aid. When her children were grown, she worked in Dr. Johnson's Office in Nevada for many years. She also worked a few years at the Story County Hospital.

In 1983, Vida was recognized as the Volunteer of the Biennium by the Iowa Federation of Women's Club, after receiving this recognition from the Colo World Outlook Club.

Vida had many interests throughout her life. She liked to knit, crochet, tat, do hairpin lace, weave on her loom, write silly poems, tell jokes, play cards with friends and games with her grandchildren, especially Tripoli. She enjoyed bird-watching and collecting stamps. Vida was always interested in the environment; she gardened using organic principles, and was "green" long before that term began being used! With her garden club, she planted and maintained flowerbeds at Hickory Grove Park and the Colo Public Library. When she retired to the OES Home in 1994 at the age of 86, she planted everyone's Easter Lilies after they had finished blooming so residents could enjoy a lovely lily garden the following year. Even after her eyesight diminished, she tried to adapt and stay involved in activities.

Vida was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 1970 and all seven siblings.

She is survived by her four children: Margaret A. Rankin of Iowa City, IA; Donna Blochowitz of Frisco, TX; David (Diane) of Volga, SD; and Hila M. (Bob) Garms of Elkader, IA. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Scott (Judy) Blochowitz, Hila A. (Andy) Cartwright, Dennis and Brian (Caroline) Rankin, Matt (Angie) Garms, Mindy (Bill) Dunlap, as well as greatgrandchildren, Randy and John Blochowitz; Jack Cartwright; Brady, Hayley and Brooke Rankin, Ashtyn and Alaina Garms and Adam Dunlap; stepgrandchildren, Andre and Olivia Dunlap.

Fredregill Funeral Home in Zearing is in charge of funeral arrangements.

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