Rayna Marie (Ball) Larsen, 75

Rayna Marie (Ball) Larsen, 75, of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, after a long battle with cancer.

She was born to Irving and Myrna (Lewis) Ball on the family farm on March 15, 1941, in St. Ignatius where she graduated from St. Ignatius High School. Her continuing education was at Rocky Mountain College in Billings where she majored in elementary music, while there she met her future husband Otto. Also during her college years she went on a mission trip to Costa Rica through the United Methodist Church.

Rayna’s first teaching position was at a Native American reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota; she also taught in Libby and in Michigan. During her 30-year temporary residence in Michigan she was very active in the Boy Scouts. She created a program called Jungle Book where the adult leaders went away for a weekend to live like an 8-year-old boy and learn how to teach crafts, songs and skits. She continued volunteering with Boy Scouts long after her boys had gone on with their lives. Rayna was a successful Tupperware and Avon representative, as well as an expert in almost any type of crafts.

In her retirement years, she and Otto traveled extensively throughout the world on cruise ships, some of which completely circled the world and lasted over 180 days.

She was preceded in death by her husband Otto, her son Gerald, and her brother Lewis.

She is survived by her son Matthew and granddaughter Samantha of Columbia Falls; daughter-in-law Sharon and grandson Joshua of Ferndale, Michigan, a granddaughter Amber of Columbia Falls, and a grandson Robert of Washington, D.C.; a brother, Daryl, of Tacoma, Washington, and a brother, Keith, of Lolo. She leaves behind a host of beloved family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, with Pastor Dawn Skerritt officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.