Lorraine A. Larson
January 16, 1919 - November 29, 2007
Obituary
Lorraine A. Larson
Lorraine was born January 16, 1919 in Mooreton, ND to Mary and Joseph Hermes. She pursued a nursing career after high school and attended Nursing School at the St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge, MN.
After graduation, she joined the Army Nurse Corp., USAR, and served her country during WWII at the battles and campaigns of Normandy, Rhineland, Central Europe, Northern France and Ardennes. The US Army decorated her for her service, awarding Lorraine the EAME Theater Ribbon, the Silver Battle Star, and the Bronze Star Medal. Before receiving an honorable discharge, Lorraine attained the rank of First Lieutenant.
In the years after the war, Lorraine met the love of her life, Phillip L. Larson in Sisseton, SD. In 1949, they married at St. James Cathedral in Seattle where Phillip had a job with the Boeing Company.
Over the next seven years, three daughters were born into the family; Shirley Redburn, Patty Sherman, and Joelene Larson. Through her example, Lorraine taught her daughters the value of hard work and a commitment to their faith. Frequent family vacations to visit relatives in North Dakota and South Dakota taught them Lorraine felt strongly about the importance of keeping close family ties.
Lorraine specialized as a “Baby Nurse,” working first at the local Renton Hospital and then at Riverton Hospital. With fellow nurses as a team, she enjoyed bowling weekly and won many trophies for her skills. She retired from nursing in 1984 and spent her time being a grandmother, gardening, traveling, and crafting.
Lorraine was a dedicated and loyal wife. After 50 years of marriage, she lost her dear husband in 1999.
In 2006, she moved in with her daughter. There, at home, she died peacefully in her sleep on November 29, 2007
She is survived by her three loving daughters and one son-in-law, Joseph Redburn. She had three grandchildren whom she loved very much: Jeff Redburn, Patrick Redburn, and Elizabeth Larson. In addition, she has two living sisters who will greatly miss her: Rosie Hermes of Douglas, AK and Mary Lou Church of El Paso, TX.
At 7:15 PM on Monday, December 3, 2007, the family invites friends to join in a rosary for Lorraine at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 13055 SE 192nd Street Renton, WA 98058. Then on December 4, in a private family ceremony, she will be buried next to her husband at Washington Memorial Cemetery. Later that same day, at 12:30 PM, her family and friends will celebrate a memorial mass in her honor at St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church.
In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation at http://www.womensmemorial.org/Donate/donate.html.
Hi Joey:
Very sorry to hear about your mother, Janet told me. It is a tough ordeal to lose one’s parents, and your mother had quite a life. Again, very sorry.
Jack Tipping
Dear Larson Family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom. I remeber all the fun times we had on our visits back to Mooreton ND. God gave you a great Mom and a great sister to our Mom. I know that the Heavenly Father is excited to have her home and at peace with Him. I know my Father will be there to greet her and they will be looking out over all of us. Look up when you get sad or blue and know she lives on in our hearts. You all were Blessed to have your Mom as we were to have her in our family. May God hold you up in the days ahead as He has us. Gob Bless you all . My best, Penny
The Larson Family,Wish we could be there with you all at this very sad time,to give you our Support,Love, and Hugs.We will always remember our visits to Washington, your Mom & Dad were such gracious hosts,we had Great Times!When hearts are empty,filling with Happy Memories can help,and we know you all have many.Our thoughts,prayers,sympathy and love,Mark & JudyUnderberg
Shirley, Patti, Joey and families,
It was so sad to here that Lorraine had passed, but it so nice that she died peacefully in her own home. It would be the way anyone would like to pass. We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow. May God bless and keep you all safe and sound. Love,
Just learned that Lorraine passed away. Very sorry to hear this especially for the girls. It has been a number of years since we have seen her, we were neighbors at one time, on 186th street. Joey may remember the family with the twin girls.
I’m so sorry for your great loss. Lorraine was one of a kind. Very witty and sharp to the end. I’m sure your faith and strong family connections will see you thru this sad time. Love, judith
I can’t help but think of all the fun times we had when your family would come to visit Mooreton and all the other relatives would be there. We had some great times.
Your Mom will never be forgotten as each of us will keep her memory close.
I never got to meet my Great Aunt Lorraine but I so sad to hear about her passing. My Grandma is Mary Lou Church and I know how special she was to her. My heart goes out to your family.
Love,
Rosalie M. Escobedo
Dear Larson Family,
Wish I could have made the trip, but I think you understand. I have such good memories of your Mom and Dad. I spent many weekends with them when I was at the Indian Hospital in Tacoma. I believe Lorraine was the one who encouraged me to go to Alaska with the Indian Service so that we could work together. I went to Alaska…she married Pete. It was nice to have a reunion at Shirley’s with Lorraine and Rosie. MANY, MANY thanks to all you girls for taking such good care of my sister. She was the best. Love to you all. Mary Lou Church
Dear Larson Gang,
I am so sorry to hear about Aunt Lorraine passing away. I am glad to know that she went so peacefully, but am sad nontheless. I must say, that it has be waaaaay too long since we have seen one another, and I have relied on old letters from my pen pal Joey when we were kids, to get to know each other, and your on going family letters that have kept us in touch with your lives and our sweet Aunt over the last several years. Your outpouring of love, kindness, frequent calls, letters, great advice, and encouragement as we lost daddy and helped mom regain her health has been a blessing in more ways than you will ever know. It speaks of the kind of parents you had, and the strength, compassion and fortitude they instilled in each of you. Thank you for your kindness to all of us. May we return the favor and bear your grief along with you, and also celebrate the wonderful life your mother lived, and the joy she brought to so many. We will miss her. Blessings to you all. Love, Mary Jo Church Mallard
Dear Sweet Larson Family,
You are in our prayers. I hope God’s Love lifts you all up and gives you peace and comfort each day ahead. I hope we can bring our families closer to God and each other in the years ahead. We sure love your mom. Love Ralph,Jerri, rosie, johnny, and joanna escobedo
I loved reading about your mom’s army nurse service. I wish I had known about it and could have heard some of her stories.
But I do remember her good cookie baking at Christmas and how she would hide the treats in tupperware on top of the refrig!
I send my sincere sympathy.
Darla and I wish to express our sincere sympathy.Lorraine will continue to live on with you everyday in your hearts as she will in mine.I have fond memories of her loving care whenever I was injured or ill.Her cinnamon rolls were great medicine!
Just wanted to send my sympathy to all of you. I have a few cherished memories of Lorraine and your Dad. The one that pops in my mind first is the time Pete and Lorraine took us to the ocean when I was visiting Mary Jean one year. We had a picnic and spend the day just hanging out. It was so much fun and such a special treat. The Mooreton visits and Marcella and Willard’s “breeze way” get togethers were always fun. I am sure that Lorraine is with Pete right now and they are happy to be together again. They had a wonderful relationship. The thought of them together again makes me smile. Our family is so grateful to Pete and Lorraine for allowing Mary Jean to live with them when she first moved to Seattle. It was a relief to know she was cared for in such a generous way. Please know that your are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Charlotte
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you on Tuesday. I despirately want to be there with you but with the circumstances here its impossible. Lots of Love, Ellen
Dear Shirley,Patty, Joey and family,
Today, December 2 is the day I read the emails of Lorraine’s passing. What a blessing for your mom to have such amazing daughters and family. She was deeply loved and cared for in such dignity. I know how sad you are and how much the loss hurts. Know I am praying and thinking of all of you on these days of preparations and saying goodbye to you mom. I love you all, Ann
We were saddened to hear of Lorraine’s passing. It is the end of an era with the loss of very special neighbors. We have missed Pete and Lorraine so much in the last few years and now we know she is with her beloved husband and friend. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and send our deepest sympathies. She was a special lady.