Lorraine Hanson

Lorraine Hanson, 97, Bismarck, died February 16, 2016, at St. Gabriel’s Community, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 20, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Jeanine Kersey-Russell officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Lorraine Hanson was born to Winford and Eva (Marston) Hall on May 6th, 1918, in Glentana, MT. She graduated from Flaxton High School in Flaxton, ND as valedictorian. Lorraine attended Minot State College. Her first teaching job was in Northgate, ND, where she met Harold Haugstad. Shortly thereafter, WWII broke out and Harold enlisted in the United States Air Force. Harold and Lorraine were married July 29, 1942, while he was on furlough. They lived in Shreveport, LA, before he was sent overseas. Harold was a B-26 pilot based in Algires, North Africa. He was killed during the war on April 6, 1943. They had been married a brief 8 months. Lorraine continued her education and graduated from Western Washington College in Bellingham, WA. She taught elementary school at Lake Stevens, WA prior to coming back home to Carrington, ND. She worked at Foster County State Bank for several years before pursuing her Master’s degree in Theology at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Following graduation, she returned to her teaching career in Minot, ND where she met Theodore (Ted) Walker. They were married on June 16, 1962, and moved to Deadwood, SD. Years later, Lorraine accepted a job at the Big Coulee School in Sisseton, SD where she was the school administrator, principal and teacher. She taught Native American preschoolers until her husband Ted passed away from cancer on April 3, 1983. Lorraine subsequently retired from teaching and moved back to Carrington, ND to care for her mother. There she met Lloyd Hanson. They were married on Oct. 11, 1986. They lived in Bismarck, ND, where they enjoyed retirement for several years. Lloyd passed away Nov. 3, 2005, also from cancer. Lorraine later moved to Edgewood Vista and recently to St. Gabriel’s Community. She enjoyed the company of friends and family, was active in church, and in earlier years played the church organ. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Lorraine loved to travel and spent time in Europe where she enjoyed searching for and meeting relatives. Lorraine surely will be missed by her loved ones. She is survived by her sister, Merillyn Marcotte and several nieces: Jane Clinkenbeard (Jim), Karen Nagel (Steve), Julie McKay (Craig), Gail Hall, Shelley Heath (Jim), Mary Wacha and Jan Hall. Surviving nephews are: Don (Adrienne), Craig (Stacey), Tom and David Hall; surviving stepson is Gary (LuEtte) Hanson. Preceding Lorraine in death are her parents, Eva and Winford Hall; brothers, Hollis and Sandy Hall; and niece Judy Hall.