SGT. Michael "Mike" Raymond Ranney, USAF, passed away unexpectedly on August 9th , 2023, at the age of 76. He was born June 18th , 1947, an only child to Raymond and Doris (Read) Ranney in Spokane, WA. Mike was raised in Spokane and attended several schools in Spokane, St. Anne's, university, grad school, spent 2 years in Mexico, West Valley Jr. High, and Warden High School, before joining the U.S. Air Force where he spent nearly 4 years serving from 1965-1969. While in the military he served in the Pope AFB, NC Fire Department. In 1975, he earned his Associates Culinary Arts Degree at Renton Technical College in Renton, WA.

Mike worked in many industries over the years, including sawmill worker, steel aluminum foundry worker, diamond core driller, labor jobs, motel manager, and food prep and cook most notably, he worked as a Chef at the 50,000 Silver Dollar Saloon, in Haugan, Montana.

Mike enjoyed spending time hunting, listening to rock music, playing the drums including playing in several bands, stamp collecting, traveling, watching NASCAR and the Seattle Seahawks, cooking and was most passionate about fishing. He attended many rock concerts and had many favorite bands; Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Back Sabbath, Rolling Stones, Beatles to name a few. His favorite male singers were, Elvis, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Ozzy Ozborne, Bob Seger, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Wilson Picket, and James Brown. His favorite female singers were Mariah Carey, Stevie Nicks, Toni Braxton, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Janis Joplin. Mike loved watching sports on TV and often had several playing at the same time on multiple televisions. His favorite sports to watch were the Seattle Seahawks, Gonzaga, NASCAR, Drag Racing, Indy Car Racing, Boxing, the Seattle Mariners, and College Basketball. He had several favorite NASCAR drivers over the years, Kevin Harvick,
Dale Earnhardt, Dale Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chad Little, Greg Biffle, Michael Waltrip, and his most favorite Danica Patrick.

Mike lived and worked in several places over the years including Spokane, Deming, Warden and Renton, Washington. Also, Mexico for 2 years and Phoenix, Arizona. He also spent time in Superior, Missoula, Haugan, De Borgia, and St. Regis in Montana.
Mike had many animals over the years, lots of dogs, tropical fish, a few cats, and hamsters. "Leah", his Great Danel lived 13 years, "Mariah", his Shar Pei was with him for 12 years, and he had several mixed mutts for 10 years. His beloved, "Lily", a Chihuahua and Pomeranian mix is 10 years old and going strong.

Mike had several friends over the years that he wished to have mentioned. He considered his dad, Raymond, one of his best friends. Carole Washburn, whom he met in 1971 at his dad's bar, Valley-Ho Inn in Spokane, Washington, they later married and divorced but stayed friends for almost 50 years. His longtime friend Gary Strate who he met in St. Regis, MT in 1990. He and Gary spent a lot of time together "drinking a lot of beer and watching a lot of football games, Seattle Seahawks". Mike had fond memories of going shopping in Missoula, Montana with Gary and appreciated that Gary would come from St. Regis to visit him in Spokane. They had a lot of things in common and he and Gary spoke on the phone almost daily. Mike was also very thankful for his next-door neighbors, Robert and Cyndi Fridye. They moved in next door in 2018 and
Robert has kept Mike's 1973 Ambassador AMC car running; fixed multiple things in Mike's house as well as regular maintenance of his yard. In Mike's words, "Thank God for their friendship and help".

Mike had a love for cars and had much pride in the ones he owned over the years. He owned Chevy's, Fords, Pontiacs, Toyota's, and Buicks. Among his favorites were a 1949 Mercury, 1953 Dodge, his first car a 1951 Pontiac that
cost him $100.00, a 1966 Buick Skylark, a 1973 AMC Ambassador and most recently his 2004 Buick Le Sabre Custom.

Mike was preceded in death by his Grandma and Grandpa Read who taught him how to stream fish, Grandma and Grandpa Ranney who taught him how to Lake fish, his parents, and Stepsister, Sherre Johnson. He is survived by his children, sons Jeff Hill, Willie Ranney, David Ranney, Robert Ranney, Mathew Rickett, daughter Jenni Marie Rickett-Adams, Stepbrother Pat McClure, Sister Kelly (Read) Yamane (Keith), 6 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Longtime friend Gary Strate, 4-legged companion, "Lily", and neighbors/friends, Robert and Cyndi Fridye, who he noted, "are great cooks and brought me, "ass- kicking", dinners and many meals". "I have had a good life, a happy and full life. Thank you all for coming to see me off to a higher place. I will miss you, Love Mike."