Ruby "Dee" Rainey

Ruby Delores “Dee” Rainey, 90, of Bellaire, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire. She was born on May 1, 1934, in Kalkaska, the daughter of Irvin and Ruby (Bennett) Lantzer.

Dee was raised in Kalkaska, delivered papers as a young girl and enjoyed playing basketball. She went on to graduate from Kalkaska High School in 1952. After high school, she enlisted in the United States Army During the Korean Conflict, serving from 1952 to 1954. While serving, she met the love of her life, William Rainey, and the two were wed on December 31, 1954, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. They started a family the very next year in 1955, and lived in Memphis, Tennessee for several years before moving to the family farm in Alden in 1962. In 1980, they relocated to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Dee moved back to Northern Michigan permanently in 1997 after William passed away.

Dee had a very creative mind and made many heartfelt and personal gifts for her children and grandchildren over the years. She was a gifted painter, but her abilities didn’t stop there; she could create just about anything she set her mind to. She also liked to collect knickknacks to display at her house, and loved to birdwatch, especially hummingbirds.

She was a long-time member of The Rock Church –formerly Living Word North –in Bellaire. The church, and her church family, were extremely important to her. She dedicated much of her time doing whatever she could for the church; from helping with VBS, to walking in parades, to prison ministry, to visits with folks at Meadowbrook, to maintenance, to singing, she truly did it all. She loved the Lord with all of her heart and shared this love with anyone who would listen.

Dee is survived by her five children, Roger (Laura) Rainey of Bellaire, William Arthur (Amora) Rainey of The Philippines, Timothy Rainey of Charlevoix, Loie Fay (Jim) MacQuarrie of Custer Township, and Thomas (Missy) Rainey of Bellaire; her son-in-law, Mark Niemann of Detroit; 19 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Rainey; her daughter Connie Jo Niemann; six siblings; and her parents.

A funeral service will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at The Rock Church, 4867 Aero Park Dr, Bellaire, MI 49615 with Pastor Brad Klooster officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, and again on Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at 10:00. Those who are unable to attend in person can view the service via Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therockchurchbellaire/streams. Ruby will be laid to rest next to her late husband, William Rainey, at Helena Township Cemetery in Alden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Rock Church, PO Box 314, Bellaire, MI 49615, or Heartland Hospice.

Arrangements are in the care of the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign her online guestbook at wwww.mortensenfuneralhomes.com