Lorraine Louise Funk was born October 9th, 1933 to John and Tina Harms in Grizwold, Manitoba. She moved to Oliver, BC with her parents as a young child and lived there into her teens.
It was at the Oliver church, being in her mid-teens, that Lorraine found her faith in Jesus through a series of evangelistic meetings and she was baptized shortly afterwards. Lorraine was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and was greatly appreciated in the church, school and community choirs.
It was the winter of 1950 – spring of 1951 that Lorraine chose to go to bible school at the Bethel Bible Institute in Abbotsford. This is where she met her husband Harvey. They were later married on October 21st, 1951 in Oliver.
As a newlywed couple they moved to Grassy Plains along with her parents. Lorraine’s father was instrumental in planting a church in Tatalrose where both Lorraine and Harvey played an active role in the children’s ministry and teaching Sunday school. Lorraine was also very involved as a cook at Ootsa Lake Bible Camp where she worked from its beginning and continued working there until her health made it too difficult.
Ten children were born to the union, 5 boys and 5 girls, Diane, Ken, Kathy, Jim, Bonnie, Beverley, Bruce, Brian, Loren and Gail, all but one of the kids were born in Burns Lake. ?Twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren were added to the mix.
Lorraine was a very devoted wife and mother and stayed home as a career mother until the last of the children started school. From there on she worked for 10 years as a care-giver in her community. She was an excellent cook and seamstress. She took great pride in sewing dresses for her girls and the girls took great pride in modeling them. She was very hospitable and always found time to entertain and accommodate others.
Lorraine loved to sing songs to her grandchildren. Her favourites were, Fishers of Men, This Little Light of Mine ?and Jesus Loves Me. She was a perfect example for her children and grandchildren of what a mother and grandmother should be.
In 1994 Harvey and Lorraine sold their property across the lake and moved to Burns Lake where Lorraine resided until her death. During those 16 years she, along with her husband, fellowshipped at the 1st Mennonite church where she was very active in the ladies sewing circle, sewing blankets that benefited many of the world’s needy. Lorraine took great pleasure in this.
Upon Harvey’s retirement she enjoyed the blessing of travel, visiting family, camping with family and friends and living life to its fullest.
Lorraine also loved bowling and spent 10 years trying for the sweet spot and loved it when all the pins went down! “Good shot sweetheart!”
After fighting her cancer for nearly two years Lorraine left this earth in the early morning hours of June 28th, 2010 at 1:20 a.m., with her husband, Harvey, daughters, Diane and Gail, and son-in-law Mark by her side.