Adela Ranta Iams
Adela Ranta Iams was born in Deaconess Hospital in Billings,
Montana on April 3, 1936. There was a nasty snow storm
between Red Lodge and Billings on that day and with the road
only gravel it took her father several hours to reach the
hospital in time. She spent the next nineteen years in Red
Lodge having, as she described it,” The happiest and most
carefree days of my life.” After graduating from high school
she made the decision to move to Billings in search of a
job.
She began working the day after her graduation for Mountain
Bell as a switch board operator. She loved her job and
during the next thirty-four years she kept pace with the
advances of communication technology and became a manager of
Operator Services. She retired in 1989 as one of AT&T’s
outstanding employees. During those early years on the job
she successfully juggled her job with family. She married
Jeffrie Iams in 1956 and together they had four children
Jeffrie Iams Jr., (Eileen) of Kalispell, MT, Joel Iams (Pat)
of Payson, AZ, Summer Davey (Keith) of Great Falls, MT and
Stephanie Lodman (John) of Boise, ID. She loved her children
with a passion. As an only child she delighted in the flurry
of activities and opportunities she could provide for her
children.
Adela was active in the Red Lodge Methodist Church as a
youth and was a thirty year member of the First Methodist
Church in Billings. Her firm belief in the hereafter ensured
her a place in Heaven. Adela and Jeff resided in several
states during their fifty-four years of marriage but she
never gave up her home in Montana. She always said, “My
roots branch from Billings to Red Lodge.” Her retirement was
filled with joyful trips to visit her four children, eleven
grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She enjoyed
cruises, reading good books and trips to Las Vegas and
Deadwood. She had a wide circle of friends and loved to
lunch with them. There was a special group saved for Fridays
and she could not wait to see them to discuss the events of
the week and share a glass of wine.
She is preceded in death by her mother Ellen Ranta; her
father Arne Ranta; her niece Madola Mares; and her
brother-in-law Mike (Concrete) Iams. I addition to her
husband, children and grandchildren, she is survived by
several cousins and an aunt.
She entered the kingdom of heaven on December 30, 2010. Our family would like to express our gratitude to the nurses and caregivers at Riverstone Hospice. A special thanks to Shanda at The Billings Clinic. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on a warm sunny day in July
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.
Jeff and
family we are so sorry to hear of your loss of Adela. She was a very
special person and she will be missed by many. Our love and best wishes
for all of you.
Manny and Liane Muller
Adela was my second friend when I moved to
Red Lodge in the fourth grade. We had such fun playing on the "Ranta
hill", as we called a pile of dirt where we played. I think it was
on her grandfathers property, close to their motel. We sang in the
choir in the Methodist Church and had a giggle fit one Christmas
while doing a duet! There
are so many memories of our young years.
I am so sorry for your loss Jeff! Wish we could have had one more
reunion before she passed, but at least there was one.
Betty Skauge Whittington and Bob