Lorraine Rahko

November 18, 1912 - January 9, 2015

Lorraine Rahko died at the Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond, Washington, on January 9, 2015 at age 102. Born in Eveleth, Minnesota, she graduated from Eveleth High School in 1930, and was active in drama, athletics, and vocal music. She attended Eveleth Junior College for three years, where she majored in languages. Lorraine worked for ten years for the Eveleth Schools Health Department. In 1943 she moved to Raymond, where she married Henry (Hank) Rahko, who had earlier come to Raymond from the Iron Range country of Minnesota. Lorraine and Hank founded Shoalwater Evergreens and operated the business for 18 years, employing as many as four people to supply greens to florist shops across the United States. She also worked for La Belle Apparel in Raymond before it was destroyed by fire. For a brief time she was an assistant to physical therapist Wilbur Brewer. She came to the Willapa Harbor Care Center in 2005 and lived there until her death. Lorraine’s parents, Minnie Masucci and Louis (Noe) Belanger preceded her in death, as did Henry and her brothers Earl, Edmund, and Aurilien. She is survived by a nephew; Brian Belanger, of Rockville, Maryland, and his wife, Dian Belanger, and a niece, Joanne Broten, of Denver, Colorado. Funeral services will be held Wednesday January 14, 2015 at St. Lawrence Church in Raymond, Rosary at 10:30 followed by Mass at 11:00. Burial services will be held at a later date at the Eveleth, Minnesota, Cemetery where she will be interred beside her Mother and Father.