Lorraine Lillian Olsen age 87 of Tyler, formerly of Lake Benton, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 9 at First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the church with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial is in Danebod Lutheran Cemetery. Online condolences may be placed at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tyler Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lorraine Lillian Olsen was born December 14, 1928 in Jamestown, North Dakota to Paul and Sophie (Mammenga) Pfarr. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. After three years, the family moved to a farm near Lamberton. They later moved to Tacomah, Washington where Lorraine attended school. The family moved back to Lamberton where they lived in town. While there, Lorraine attended a dance in Walnut Grove where she met the love of her life, Arnold Olsen. She lived in New Ulm for about a year with her family and kept in touch with Arnold while he was serving in WWII. On July 8, 1946 Lorraine married Arnold Olsen in New Ulm. In 1953 they made their home four miles west of Tyler, which is still the family farm. Arnold passed away April 8, 2004. Lorraine continued living on the farm until going into Danebod Assisted Living in August 2010. She entered Sunrise Manor in October 2011 where she has resided since. Lorraine was a long-time member of First English Lutheran Church where she was very active in Ladies Aid, Bible study, Altar Guild, Circle, and teaching Sunday School. Lorraine enjoyed baking and cooking; she was noted for her homemade buns. She loved music and being active with the family bands and going to dances. Lorraine loved working on the farm with Arnold and spending time with her family.
Lorraine is survived by her daughters: Carol (Marv) Nissel of New Ulm, Doreen Krog of Tyler, and Lisa (Phil) Myhrberg of Marshall; sons Leon (Ann) Olsen of New Ulm and Larry (Brenda) Olsen of Lake Benton; 10 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; 2 step-great grandchildren; siblings: Elaine Hoffrogge of Madelia, Betty (Frank) Lindmeyer of New Ulm, Ray (Betty) Pfarr of New Ulm, Kenny (Juanita) Pfarr of Mankato, and Shirley (Leon) Geiger of New Ulm; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Arnold, and 2 great grandchildren, Lessin and Caiden Ebel.
You can remember your wonderful life now, Grandma, and are at peace now with Grandpa … dancing the night away and making sure your great grandchildren have plenty of cookies and homemade doughnuts to eat. I will never forget all the great times we had together, Grandma, like the time we woke you up in the middle of the night after a night of partying and you got up out of bed to make us all breakfast at 5 a.m.! You also taught me many things – the most important is to let go. It takes a good person to forgive even if forgiveness is not warranted. Family is the most important thing in the world, followed by music, which brings happiness. I love you and always will!!
Blessings to the family
Sending all our love and prayers to your families. Love, Brandee, Jaylen & Zach
The poem by E.E. Cummings best reflects our family’s loss of Aunt Lorraine:
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my hear) I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you Here is the deepest secret nobody knows ( here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
I carry your hear (I carry it in my heart) Thank you for the wonderful memories.
May our thoughts of sympathy help to ease your pain at the loss of your mother
My heartfelt sympathy to all my cousins. I have wonderful memories growing up with my cousin Carol while staying on the family farm and going to the county fair. Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Arnold were so good to me. I enjoyed going to the dances when I was young as my uncles and cousins played and sang. The loss is hard but the memories are forever. Blessings to each of you.
I have so many beautiful memories of Aunt Lorraine. She was a beautiful person on the inside as well as the outside. Staying at the farm with Carol, Doreen, and Leon was always made extra fun, because Aunt Lorraine always let us do just about anything we wanted to do….even raid her garden so we could “can peas” in the playhouse! She was always ready with a hug and comforting smile when I got homesick for mom and dad, and then gave me one of her delicious chocolate cupcakes that she had in the freezer! Aunt Lorraine “tolerated” , and even encouraged me, to play and sing on the piano when I stayed with them. :} She will be remembered by many for her big heart and easy-going nature. I loved her dearly, and am so grateful that I had an opportunity to visit her this summer with cousins Renee and Karen! I want you to know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers. Wish we could be there with you to celebrate her life on earth, and her new life in heaven with Our Lord! She for sure had a big “welcoming party” at the Pearly Gates! Let the music and dancing begin! Love you all!
Prayers and sympathies for all upon her death from western South Dakota!! To have lived so long, left so many memories in loved hearts, and left the world a much better place because of being there is such a testament to her!!!
To all the Olsen “Kids”….Sorry to hear about your Mom. It was a pleasure to have made her acquaintance. Wishing you all the best! From the DIekman “Kids”….Hidewood Valley, South Dakota.
Our Deepest Sympathy and Prayers for the Olsen Family…. Lorraine was a part of My family too, somehow related to my Grandma Bertha Dallmann and my Mom Edna Buetow… can’t remember the connection. She was a nice lady! May Lorraine R.I.P.~~ Alvina (Buetow) and Larry Moyars… Tracy, Mn.