Lorraine J. Lorenz
Lorraine
J. Lorenz, 85, of Billings, passed away on September 26, 2009,
following a short illness. Lorraine had been a resident of St.
John's Lutheran Home since 2006.
Lorraine was born on July 3, 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the only child born to Nea and Robert Steadland. After graduating from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, she attended the University of Minnesota where she earned degrees in Spanish and library science.
Lorraine’s first job after college was at the library at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where she met her future husband, Howard W. Lorenz. They were married on June 8, 1949. His job as a geologist, first with the U.S.G.S. and later with several oil and gas companies, brought them to Townsend, Montana in 1948, and later to Lewistown, Montana, Evansville, Indiana, Bismarck, N.D. and Omaha, Nebraska, before they settled permanently in Billings. In all the places they lived, Howard and Lorraine made lifelong friends, and Lorraine enjoyed participating in the “Geo-Wives” groups.
Lorraine and Howard raised three children in Billings. In the 1970s, Lorraine returned to work as a librarian at both the Parmly Billings Library and at the Eastern Montana College Library. Lorraine had a lifelong love of reading and books, and very much enjoyed her work as reference librarian, which gave her the opportunity to help students with research projects and homework assignments. At home, Lorraine enjoyed gardening, canning and home cooking. In their retirement, Howard and Lorraine established and operated the Canyon Creek Art Gallery on Shiloh Road. Lorraine was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Friends of the Library.
Lorraine is survived by two sons, Robert (Rada) of Billings and Tim (Heidi) of Great Falls; a daughter, Sarah Caufield (Michael) of Seattle; and three grandchildren, Talya and Katarina Lorenz and Owen Caufield. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Howard.
Interment with Graveside Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, at Mountview Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at a later time.
The family would like to express their appreciation to past and present staff of St. John's Lutheran Home for the warm and loving care Lorraine received, and asks that memorials be made to the St. John's Foundation or to the Parmly Billings Library Foundation.
Remembrances
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