You know Marty Raney from Homestead Rescue, but have you ever wondered about the woman who keeps everything running behind the scenes? Meet Mollee Roestel, the quiet force who’s been the backbone of Alaska’s most famous homesteading family for over 50 years. While cameras capture her husband and kids fixing broken homesteads across America, she’s been managing million-dollar businesses from 100 miles off-grid.
Most people think they know the Raney family story, but they’re missing the most important piece. Mollee isn’t just Marty’s wife – she’s the financial mastermind, the family anchor, and the reason their Alaska homesteading empire actually works. Let me tell you why her story matters more than you think.
Mollee Roestel Bio/Wiki
| Personal Information | Details |
| Full Name | Mollee Roestel |
| Birth Year | 1957 |
| Birth Place | Washington, USA |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Current Residence | Haines, Alaska |
| Spouse | Marty Raney (married 1974) |
| Children | Matt Raney, Misty Raney, Melanee Raney, Miles Raney |
| Grandchildren | Ruby Bird Raney, Gauge Bilodeau, and others |
| Religion | Jehovah’s Witness |
| Profession | Accountant, Alaska Stone and Log Company |
| Parents | Lorel Wayne Roestel, Beverly Watkins |
| Siblings | Larry, Garry J., Terry, David Roestel; Sheryl Ripley, Pam Hillemann |
| TV Appearances | Does not appear on Homestead Rescue (by choice) |
| Notable Achievement | 50th Wedding Anniversary (2024) |
| Lifestyle | Off-grid homesteading in remote Alaska |
Who Is Mollee Roestel?
Mollee Roestel is way more than just a homesteader’s wife – she’s the business brain behind Alaska Stone and Log Company and the woman who chose spreadsheets over stardom. Born in 1957 in Washington, USA, she grew up in Snoqualmie Valley in a Jehovah’s Witness household with six siblings. You won’t see her face on Homestead Rescue, and that’s completely by choice.
She’s been managing the family’s finances, raising four kids, and keeping a multi-million dollar operation running while living completely off-grid. Think managing your household budget is tough? Try doing it when the nearest bank is 100 miles away and you’re running a construction company that builds custom homes across Alaska.
Her story breaks every stereotype about homesteading wives just following their husbands’ dreams. Mollee has been an equal partner in building this empire from day one, and honestly, they probably wouldn’t have made it without her sharp business mind and unwavering faith.
Early Life and Family Background
Growing up as one of seven kids shaped Mollee’s ability to manage chaos – a skill that came in handy later with four adventurous children of her own. Her parents, Lorel Wayne Roestel and Beverly Watkins, raised her in the Snoqualmie Valley where her father served as an Army officer. Her siblings include four brothers – Larry, Garry J., Terry, and David Roestel – plus two sisters, Sheryl Ripley and Pam Hillemann.
This large family structure taught her early on how to balance different personalities and needs, which explains how she manages the dynamic Raney family so smoothly. Her father lived to age 95, passing away in Spokane in 2020, with his funeral held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Jehovah’s Witness faith wasn’t just a Sunday thing in the Roestel household – it was a way of life that emphasized community, hard work, and strong family bonds. These values became the foundation for everything Mollee would build later in Alaska, from raising kids who could survive in the wilderness to running a business with complete integrity.
Mollee Raney Marriage and Partnership with Marty Raney
When Mollee married Marty Raney in 1974, she wasn’t just saying “I do” to a man – she was signing up for the adventure of a lifetime. Their first home together was a floating logging camp near Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska with no electricity, running water, or heating. Most newlyweds would have called it quits, but Mollee saw it as the perfect place to build something extraordinary.
Their partnership works because they complement each other perfectly. Marty is the big-picture visionary who sees potential in broken homesteads and impossible situations. Mollee is the practical genius who figures out how to pay for it all and keeps the family grounded while he’s chasing the next big project.
What strikes me most about their relationship is how they’ve maintained their individual strengths while building something together. Mollee chose to stay behind the cameras not because she lacks confidence, but because she knows where her talents serve the family best.
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The Alaskan Wilderness Journey
The Raney family didn’t just stumble into Alaska homesteading – they dove in headfirst and kept moving deeper into the wilderness. After that first floating camp, they relocated in 1975 to a 160-acre homestead in Haines, Alaska, positioned 100 miles from the nearest town and completely off-grid. Can you imagine choosing to live further from civilization when you could have moved closer?
By 1979, they’d moved to the Wasilla area, then later to another remote floating logging camp 100 air miles from Sitka, Alaska. Each move taught them more about self-sufficient lifestyle and what it really takes to thrive in Alaska remote living.
Their journey through different locations wasn’t random wandering – it was strategic learning. Each place taught them different skills and showed them what kind of Alaska wilderness resilience they’d need to build their dream homestead.
Professional Life and Business Mastery
While Marty swings hammers and builds cabins, Mollee manages the money that makes it all possible as the accountant for Alaska Stone and Log Company. This isn’t just bookkeeping – she’s running the financial operations for a business that specializes in natural building materials, stonework and log construction, and old-world craftsmanship across Alaska.
Her role extends far beyond typical accounting work. She coordinates with suppliers, manages project budgets, handles payroll for construction crews, and somehow makes it all work from their off-grid location. The business generates around $200,000 annually, which might not sound massive until you realize she’s managing this entire operation without the digital tools most modern businesses rely on.
The kids grew up watching her “peel logs, quarry stone, and learn the value of hard work,” showing them that success comes from dedication, not convenience. She proves that you can embrace traditional values and remote living without sacrificing business excellence.
Mollee Raney: Raising the Next Generation
Raising Matt Raney, Misty Raney, Melanee Raney, and Miles Raney in the Alaskan wilderness wasn’t just parenting – it was creating the next generation of survival experts. Mollee managed to raise four kids who are all accomplished adults while living in some of the most remote locations in North America.
Misty became the farming expert you see on Homestead Rescue, while Matt developed into the construction specialist and hunting expert. Melanee runs Chugach Adventures organizing guided tours and is also an artist and mother of three. Miles has traveled to places like Turkey, China, Bolivia, Peru, and the Congo while promoting fundraising initiatives for local communities.
The fact that Mollee raised children who could hike the Chilkoot Pass at ages six and eight shows her approach to parenting. She didn’t shelter them from difficulty – she taught them to thrive in it.
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Personal Strength and Character
Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall with brown hair and eyes, Mollee maintains excellent physical condition that matches Alaska’s demanding environment. Her marathon running habit might surprise people who think homesteaders just chop wood all day. She understands that Alaska wilderness resilience requires both mental and physical fitness, especially when medical help is hours away.
What I find most remarkable is her contentment with staying behind the scenes. In our social media world where everyone wants to be famous, Mollee chose influence over visibility. She shapes four successful adults, runs a thriving business, and anchors a TV-famous family without needing any spotlight herself.
Her ability to balance supporting her family’s dreams while maintaining her own identity shows incredible wisdom. She has her own professional expertise, her own interests, and her own decision-making power about privacy and fame.
Faith as Foundation
Mollee’s Jehovah’s Witness faith isn’t just Sunday morning religion – it’s the foundation that’s kept her family strong through decades of challenges. Her Instagram tribute to her father shows the depth of her beliefs: “His love for Jehovah was astounding. Even down to the minute before he passed. He lived and breathed the truth.”
Her religious values align perfectly with Alaska homesteading principles – community support, hard work, modest living, and putting family first. When her father’s funeral was held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spokane in 2020, it reinforced how her faith community has remained constant despite all their moves and lifestyle changes.
The way she balances her faith with her family’s reality TV fame shows incredible wisdom. She supports Marty and the kids’ television work while maintaining her own spiritual priorities.
Current Life and Celebrating Milestones
Mollee and Marty recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, marking five decades of partnership that started in Alaska’s logging camps and evolved into a homesteading and television empire. Her social media post about the celebration shows how she values family connections above everything else.
Today, she continues managing Alaska Stone and Log Company while watching her grandchildren grow up. Ruby Bird Raney (born 6 lbs 10 oz on 08/21/21), Melanee’s daughter, represents the fourth-generation Raney family. She’s also grandmother to Gauge Bilodeau, Misty’s son with Maciah Bilodeau.
Her recent travels to places like Na Pali Coast Kauai prove that she hasn’t given up adventure – she’s just chosen which adventures matter most to her. While Miles travels internationally, Mollee focuses on the family foundation that makes all their individual successes possible.
The Privacy Choice That Changed Everything
Here’s what fascinates me about Mollee’s decision to stay off Homestead Rescue – it wasn’t about being shy or uncomfortable with cameras. In a 2017 Fox News interview, Marty confirmed that Mollee, Miles, and Melanee chose not to participate in the show. This was a business decision based on understanding where each family member’s talents serve the overall mission best.
Think about it – if Mollee spent months every year filming in different states, who would manage Alaska Stone and Log Company? Who would maintain their Haines, Alaska homestead? Her choice to stay behind the scenes actually enables the show’s success.
She does appear on set when the family is filming, which shows her support for their work. But she’s made a conscious choice about where cameras are welcome in her life.
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Mollee Raney Building a Legacy That Lasts
As Mollee watches her grandchildren grow up, she’s seeing the fruits of the foundation she helped build. The fourth-generation Raney family members are growing up with the same values of hard work, self-reliance, and family loyalty that Mollee instilled in her own children.
Her role as grandmother lets her influence the next generation while watching her own children succeed in their chosen paths. Melanee’s work with Chugach Adventures brings people to experience Alaska’s beauty. Miles’ international travel spreads their values globally. Matt and Misty help struggling families on television every week.
Mollee’s quiet leadership style has created ripple effects that reach far beyond their Alaska homestead. She proves that you don’t need to be the loudest voice to have the greatest impact.
Final Words
Here’s what I want you to take away from Mollee’s story: Success doesn’t always look like what you expect. While everyone else chases fame and social media followers, she chose influence and impact. While others move to cities for convenience, she embraced remote living for freedom.
Mollee Roestel represents thousands of people who do the hard work behind every success story. Her nearly five decades of partnership with Marty Raney continues to anchor one of America’s most respected homesteading families, proving that the quiet heroes often build the strongest foundations.
What would you choose – the spotlight or the influence? Mollee made her choice 50 years ago, and honestly, I think she chose wisely.
FAQ’s About Mollee Raney
Who is Mollee Roestel?
Mollee Roestel is Marty Raney’s wife and the accountant for Alaska Stone and Log Company. She’s been the financial backbone of the Raney family homesteading empire for over 50 years.
Why doesn’t Mollee appear on Homestead Rescue?
She chose to stay behind the cameras to focus on managing their business and maintaining their Alaska homestead. Marty confirmed in 2017 that it was her personal decision.
How many children do Mollee and Marty have?
They have four children: Matt Raney, Misty Raney, Melanee Raney, and Miles Raney. All four are successful adults with their own expertise and careers.
What is Mollee’s religious background?
Mollee was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and continues practicing her faith. Her father’s funeral was held at a Kingdom Hall in Spokane in 2020.
Where do Mollee and Marty live now?
They maintain their primary residence on a remote homestead in Haines, Alaska, chosen for its farming potential and reliable water supply while staying off-grid.
What role does Mollee play in the family business?
She serves as the accountant for Alaska Stone and Log Company, managing all financial operations for their construction and natural building materials business.
How long have Mollee and Marty been married?
They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2024, having married in 1974 when they first moved to Alaska’s logging camps.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available information as of August 2025. Content is sourced from credible media reports, social media posts, and verified public records. Mollee Roestel maintains a private lifestyle, and all efforts have been made to respect her privacy while providing factual information about her role in the Raney family homestead.
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