Nestor Rentto

Nestor Rentto

• Father: Matti Joensun/Vilamo/Rentto b. 31 December 1842, d. 6 September 1917
• Mother: Aurora Frederika Fredrikintytar Makela b. 2 March 1842, d. 3 February 1928

• Nestor Rentto was born on 6 July 1873 in Juupajoki, Finland.
• He married Jennie Marie Reini, daughter of Herman Reini and Elizabeth Parkkari, in September 1902 in South Dakota, and Jennie's sister Josephine married Nestor's brother Sander Mattson.
• The following appeared on 18 September 1952 in the Lead Daily Call: (Fifty Years Ago, Sept. 18, 1902) . . . Nestor Rentto and Miss Jenny Reini were married by the Rev. J. A. Solandt.
• Nestor Rentto appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota, at 212 Milliken Street. Other members of the household included Tyyne Rentto and Alexander Rentto. Also in the household were daughters Lempi (age 3) and Jennie (15 months.)
• He was employed as a gold miner, according to the 1910 census.
• Nestor Rentto and Jennie Marie Reini appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota, at 720 Crown Street. Other members of the household included Tyyne Rentto and Alexander Rentto. Also in the household were daughters Lempi (age 13), Jennie (11), Esther (8), Ellen (6), Linda (5) and Elvy (2.)
• He was employed as a gold miner, according to the 1920 census.
• Nestor Rentto died on 31 March 1925 at age 51 in Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
• Jennie Marie Reini became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at South Lead Cemetery, Lead, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
• The following appeared on 1 April 1925 in the Lead Daily Call: Another of the long time and highly respected residents of Lead was called by death last evening shortly after eight o'clock, when Nestor Rentto, or Mattson as he was sometimes known, succumbed after an extended illness of six and a half months duration, of miner's consumption. Funeral arrangements will not be made until after the arrival of a son and daughter, who are expected tomorrow.
       Mr. Rentto began work for the Homestake company January 1910, and remained constantly in their employ until he was forced to retire through ill health in September, 1924.
       Surviving him are his wife and eight children, seven daughters and a son, as follows: Tyyne, who teaches school at Iroquois, Alexander, a sophomore at Brookings college, Lempi, a student at Spearfish normal, Jennie, Esther, Ellen, Linda and Elvi, all at home.
       Mr. Rentto was a member of the First Finnish Lutheran church and a member of the Yeomen Homestead.
• The following appeared on 2 April 1925 in the Lead Daily Call: Funeral services for Nestor Rentto (Mattson), who died in his home at 720 Barclay avenue, March 31, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the First Finnish Lutheran church, Rev. K. V. Mykkanen officiating. Deceased was born in Wirtailla, Finland, in 1873. He came to Lead in 1901, and worked for the Homestake Mining company 23 years. [:CR;] [:TAB;] Miss Tyyne Rentto, a daughter, who has been teaching in the schools at Iroquois, and a son, Alexander, who is a student at the state college at Brookings, arrived today to attend the funeral. Albert (Aub) Mattson, a nephew, and wife, of Soda Springs, Ida., are expected to arrive Saturday. Mrs. Ida Taivola, a sister of the deceased, is coming also, but the date of her arrival is not known.
• The following appeared on 8 April 1925 in the Lead Daily Call: Alexander Rentto was a passenger last evening to Brookings to resume his studies in the state college. He had been called to Lead by the death of his father, the late Nestor Rentto. His sister, Miss Tyyne left Tuesday for Iroquois to continue her teaching in the public schools of that city.
• He was employed as gold miner, according to the 1930 census.
• The following appeared on 14 December 1959 in the Lead Daily Call: Mrs. Jennie Rentto, 76 yera-old Lead woman, died early Sunday evening at the Homestake Hospital where she had been a patient since suffering a stroke Dec. 7.
       Born Feb. 13, 1883 in Finland, Mrs. Rentto came to America in 1898, settling first n Ohio. She moved to Lead July 4, 1902 and was married there Sept 19, 1902 to Nestor Rentto, who preceded her in death in March, 1935 [sic].
       Survivors include a son, Supreme Court Judge Alex Rentto, Pierre; and seven daughters, Mrs. Albert (Lempi) Tammi, Roubaix; Mrs. J. H. (Jennie) Grady, Compton, Calif; Mrs. Jack (Esther) Robison, Lead; Mrs. Frank (Ellen) Bauman, Gladewater, Tex; Mrs. Dallas (Linda) Reel, Havre, Mont; and Mrs. D. W. (Elvy) Shaffer, Lima, O.
       Also surviving are 13 grandchildren including Mrs. Wally Lere, Rapid City; Marshall and Alan Tammi, Roubaix; Robert Rentto, a student at Dartmouth College; Mary Louise Rentto, a student at Pierre High School, and six great-grandchildren.
       A memorial has been established for the First Lutheran Church of which Mrs. Rentto was an active member. Memorials may be left at the McColley Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.
       Judge Rentto, who was called to Lead a week ago by the serious illness of his mother, returned to Pierre late Sunday afternoon. He was expected to arrive in Lead Monday noon. Also arriving by plane was Mrs. Bauman. The rest of the daughters are expected to arrive by Tuesday for the funeral.

• Last Edited: 16 Jul 2016