Arne Orrin Rantanen, 69, of Middle River, MN passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at his residence with his children by his side.
A gathering time for family and friends will be held from 10am-12pm on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN. The service to celebrate Arne’s life will be held at 12pm on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, with Pastor Kent Hudson officiating. Everyone is invited for lunch and fellowship following the service.
Arne Orrin Rantanen was born on July 20th, 1953, to Arne John and Elizabeth Jane (Kruger) Rantanen in Middle River, MN. He attended school in Middle River and graduated high school in 1971. That same year, Arne was married to Diane Hanson from Thief River Falls, MN. To this union two children were born, Melissa and Arne Jr. They made their home in the Thief River Falls area.
Arne started working at Arctic Cat during high school in 1969 and continued to until they closed in 1981. He worked in various jobs throughout the years. In the summers between 1981-1988 he would head to Alaska taking on multiple positions in the gold mining industry and would come back for MN winters working at Pro Five and eventually Black Magic. When he moved back to the farm in 1991, he started Metal Magic, transforming the barn into a welding and fabrication shop. White Knuckle Performance was incorporated in 2004 making performance products for snowmobiles that eventually led to the purchase of Black Magic in 2005 until 2008. Arne continued to work on fabrication projects up until his death.
Throughout his life Arne was a very hard worker, working many evenings, weekends, and holidays. His main interest was anything to do with a snowmobile: racing, riding, innovating, wrenching, fabricating, and restoring. He enjoyed hunting, more recently from the comfort of his front porch, and working in his vegetable garden. Sunday afternoons were for NASCAR and naps. Arne loved evening drives around the township and beverages in the shop. He had many adventures and his story telling was legendary. Arne may have been rough around the edges, but he cherished his time with family and friends.
Survivors include his children, Melissa (Gayland) Jensen, Arne (Randi) Rantanen all of Thief River Falls, MN; grandchildren Megan (Brandon) Johnsrud, Sydney Hodgson, Wayde and Carter Jensen, Treyton Stomberg and Jax Rantanen; siblings, Mary Efta, Donna (Armand) Westlund, Jane (Jon) Hirst; and many other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, June Troskey; infant brother, John Neil; granddaughter, Karli Hodgson; and brother-inlaw, Lou Efta.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to either Trails to Treatments or Hospice of the Red River Valley.
