Helvi Irene Ranta

RANTA, Helvi Irene, age 90, of Fenton, died Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at home. Funeral services will be 1PM Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 7234 Fenton Rd., Grand Blanc. Pastor Will Stenke officiating. The family will receive friends 12PM Saturday until time of service at the church. Visitation will be 6-8PM Thursday and 2-4 and 6-8PM Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Memorial Contributions may be made to Holy Spirit Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. Helvi was born November 13, 1917 in Detroit the daughter of John and Hilja (Nikander) Virtanen. She graduated from Commerce High School in 1934. She married Oiva Ranta in Detroit and he preceded her in death in 1972. She had been employed by Lane Bryant as a sales clerk until retirement, then moved to Fenton in 1989. She was a member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church and a member of the Young at Heart Group. Surviving are her son Robert Ranta (Patricia) of Fenton; 2 grandchildren, Robert Ranta Jr. of Shelby Township, Anne Martin (Josh) of Fenton; great-granddaughter, Haley; and life long friend, Aili Andren of Lake Worth, Florida. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Allen in 1967 and brother, A. William Virtanen. Online condolences and tributes may be posted on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com