Minnie (Clary) Rankin (1871-1956)

BAUER, BOCKMAN, CLARY, CLAREY, DEIMERLY, FARRELL, FRITZ, HARRISON, HOULIHAN, HUMPHREY, KNOBLE, LUNDQUIST, OTOOLE, RANKIN, SHAPER, THORPE, WARLAND

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

June 3, 1871 --- April 29, 1956

Pioneer Eagle Grove Resident Dies Following Several Weeks Illness, Lived In Same House 65 Years

Funeral services for Minnie Rankin, 84, were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 o'clock in the Sacred Heart church, Eagle Grove, with the Rev. Maurice Mullan in charge. Burial was in Calvary cemetery.

Mrs. Rankin died about 5 a. m. Sunday morning in her home following a 4 month illness.

A pioneer resident Mrs. Rankin had come to Eagle Grove from Eldora in 1891 when she married Patrick Rankin. They built their home at 220 North Cadwell that year and Mrs. Rankin has lived in the same house ever since. Her husband died in 1907 leaving her with her small daughter Margaret who has lived with her ever since and who continues to reside in the home.

Friend of Children

Mrs. Rankin has lived across from the school house in Eagle Grove for all of these 65 years and has seen each of the four school buildings erected and one of them torn down.

She has always been unusually fond of children and has enjoyed the location where she could watch the school children every day. Many would expect that a widow lady of advancing years might have trouble and be cross with children. But not Mrs. Rankin, she has considered it a pleasure to be close to the school. Many, many school children and older students called at the funeral home to pay their respects to her on learning of her death.

Mrs. Rankin is the last of her family and she was also the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. John Clary. Her parents and three brothers preceded her in death Her brothers were John, Thomas and Stephen Clary.

Mrs. Rankin’s father was a pioneer builder of railroads in Iowa. He traveled all over the state building railroads in that early day. It was while they were living in Tama extending the C&NW that Mrs. Rankin met her husband Patrick. The family had moved to Eldora by the time they were married in 1891. Patrick Rankin however came to Eagle Grove with the C&NW in 1881.

G.I.A. Secretary

Mrs. Rankin was a charter member of the G.I.A. to the B of L. E. and has been the secretary of the relief association (insurance) for over 40 years. She still held the office at the time of her death.

Mrs. Rankin had enjoyed unusually good health all of her life until the morning of January 2 this year. At that time she told her daughter that she did not feel well. She visited a doctor and started treatments. Her illness became more serious and she was hospitalized for 12 days during February.

She was confined to her home and in bed following until her quiet passing on Sunday, April 29.

She is survived by her daughter Margaret who has lived with her all of her life. Miss Rankin has been the society editor of the Eagle for 36 years.

Out of Town Visitors

People from out of town attending the services Tuesday were. Mr. and Mrs. William Warland, Aurora, Ill.; Mrs. Amy Farrell, Davenport; Mrs. S. B. Clarey, Kathryn Clarey, Oskaloosa; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Houlihan, Mrs. Robert Clarey, Mrs. Stan Fritz, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Clary, Mrs. Hilda Bockman, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Harrison, Greg, Barbara and Beverly, Eldora: Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Humphrey, Hampton; Mrs. Raymond Thorpe, Mrs. John Deimerly, Clarion; Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Bauer, Boone; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Knoble, Clear Lake; Mrs. Violet Lundquist, Mrs. Frances Shaper, Anthon; and Rev. Thos. O’Toole, Corwith.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
May 3, 1956