David Dodge Rankine

David Dodge Rankine

Dave, beloved father and grandfather, proud 10th Mountain Division WW II veteran, and all round character. Best known in Snoqualmie Valley for his time as Maintenance Manager at Alpental Ski Area.

He was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Alton and Lillian Alice Rankine on November 27, 1919. and died in North Bend, Washington on June 6, 2013. He is survived by his children Arriba Stature, Craig (Karen) Rankine, Barb (Bill) Muir, and his grandchildren Amy Beth and Alex Muir. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marion, and sisters Elizabeth Owens and Nancy Regan.

One of the 10th Mountain Division veterans who added to the legacy of building and developing ski areas throughout the Western states, Dave worked his entire career managing various aspects of ski areas in Colorado, California and Washington. He continued to ski into his early 80s. He participated in the meetings held by the local 10th Mountain Rainier Chapter until his death. He traveled several times to Europe with this group, where the Italian alpine town citizens remembered and honored the American veterans with parades, celebrating their liberation from the Nazis by the 10th Mountain. He appeared in the PBS documentary, The Last Ridge, sharing his experiences.

He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his love of children, his willingness to help, his boating skills during a flood and his fleet of lawn mowers and chain saws; also for his talent of having the exact nail, screw, or tool needed for the job at hand.

He will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery, with full military honors, June 24. The pot luck, storytelling, reception follows at noon at Tahoma Hall 23806 190th Ave.SE, Covington.

Call Arriba: 888-3765 for more info. Contributions in Dave’s name can be made to Mt. Si Senior Center, PO Box 806, NB, WA 98045