Elizabeth “Belle” Rahe, nee Bustamante, age 86, of Columbia, Ill.,
Born Feb. 18, 1934, Miami, Ariz., died peacefully in her sleep, April 26, 2020, in Belleville, Ill. She was a daughter of Victor Bustamante Sr. and Stella Martinez, nee Jaloma, who preceded her in death. Belle grew up in Los Angeles, Calif., and returned to Miami many times to visit relatives. Although living the majority of her life among the rich flat farmlands of Illinois, Belle painted vivid pictures with words of Miami and the beauty of the Superstition Mountains, and the springtime bloom of the desert with its giant Saguaro cacti. She married Marine Corps Private Henry M. Rahe in Los Angeles on August 29, 1953. With her new husband she moved from the big city to Henry’s parents’ farm in rural Valmeyer, Ill. just outside St. Louis, Mo.
Belle is survived by husband Henry, sons Daniel(Brenda) and Edward (Leanne) Rahe, a daughter-in-law, Maribeth Rahe; Grandchildren Deandra (Robert) MacDermott, Nathan (Courtney)Rahe, Allison (Matthew) Rude, Zachary (Rebecca) and Erik Rahe; great-grandchildren Daniel, Henry and Otto MacDermott, Charlie Rude, and Eleanor and Rhiannon Rahe; a brother Victor Bustamante Jr. and sister Stella Espinosa. Belle is also survived by numerous cousins throughout Arizona and Southwestern states. She was preceded in death by a sister Martha Ramirez and a son David Rahe.
Condolences may be offered at www.quernheimfuneralhome.com
