Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Friday, July 11, 2008
Corrine Vera Heyen Whitcomb Rabenau
March 9, 1928 - July 7, 2008
Payette
Corrine Vera Heyen Whitcomb Rabenau, 80, of Payette, passed away Monday, July 7, 2008, of natural causes at a nursing facility in Nampa. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12, 2008, at Riverside Cemetery, Payette. Services are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Corrine was born March 9, 1928, in Crivitz, Wis., to Herman and Hilda (Littge) Heyen. When she was a child, they moved to Valier, Mont., where her parents purchased land to start a farm. She attended schools in Valier, graduating salutatorian of her class in 1946 from Valier High School. She married Stuart C. Whitcomb on June 26, 1949, and they continued to farm and ranch in the area. They had four children together.
Corrine went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Montana, Missoula, and her master’s degree in special education from Boise State University in Boise.
She gave piano lessons, held recitals for many kids and was the organist for the Methodist and Catholic churches in Valier. Corrine taught music in Kellogg, Idaho, and at Nampa State School in Nampa. Upon her retirement in 1993, she was employed as the learning disabilities teacher at New Plymouth High School.
Corrine married Fredrick P. Rabenau on Aug. 5, 1972, in Sun Valley, Idaho, and they made their home in Payette.
She was an active member of the local AAUW chapter and University of Montana Alumni Association.
She was the state president of the Montana Polio Foundation and assisted with the campaign to vaccinate schoolchildren in the Valier and surrounding area.
Corrine found much enjoyment throughout her life through reading, fishing and classical music. She was most proud of her flowers and garden, which were pictured on occasion in the local paper.
Corrine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sister, Sylvia Ruehlman; and a son, Gregory.
Survivors include her children, Jack Whitcomb, Randy Whitcomb and Gaile Budell; her sister, Lois Neyenhuis; seven grandchildren, Kelly, Brendon, Jason, Terry, Kimberly, Nickolas and Patrick; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Mountain States Tumor Institute or Make-A-Wish Foundation, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette ID 83661.
