Ranie (Mitchell) Ahenakew

Ranie Mitchell Ahenakew was received into her rather large family in Clinton, Arkansas on July 31, 1958. She was the 10th child of 13. She surrendered herself into the loving arms of her creator on June 12, 2022. Despite many health challenges throughout her adult life, she met each one with a fierce determination to rise above and overcome them. Her fighting spirit was an inspiration to all who knew her. Despite the hardships thrown upon her, she was determined to treat them as a motivator and not as a detriment. She graduated from SHS and went on to receive her nursing degree from Northern Montana college. She pursued her career until her retirement. Ranie married the love of her life, Jim Ahenakew. Ranie and Jim had been married for the last 27 years. Even though they had no children of their own, Ranie always treated her nieces and nephews from both sides of their families as her own. She was an aunt to many nieces, nephews, grands and greats. She had a way of relating to them in a fun and loving way. We know they all have a fun or funny story about her, and with her, that holds a special place in their hearts as well.

Even with her astonishing relationships with people in her life she also had a special bond with her fur partners which she referred to as her kids. In fact, her last words to Jim were: Go home and take care of the kids. They often were her friends and companions. She cared for them deeply.

Ranie was preceded in death by her parents, Ken & Esther Evans, Robert Mitchell; her sister, Kim Scheer and brother-in-law Ordean Scheer; her father and mother-in-law, Ed & Vena Ahenakew.

Ranie is survived by her husband, Jim Ahenakew in Las Vegas, NV; sisters, Jerri Long, Bernice Phelps, Lynn Lunda, Leota Evans, Antoinette Forbes, Lora Zimmerman and Susan Evans; brothers, Norval Mitchell, Ken Mitchell (Charlotte), Dave Mitchell, Chuck Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell (Elaine), Dean Mitchell, Tom Evans (Pat) and Kenneth Evans.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, July 15, at 10:00am at the Shelby Fire Hall. Ranie's cremains will be interred in her family plot following the service.

Opportunity will be given for individual remembrances and stories for anyone who would like to share. The family knows that almost anyone who knew Ranie has a Ranie story to tell. May she rest in peace knowing that she was loved dearly and Thank You, Ranie, for sharing your life journey with us.