Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church beginning at 10:30 a.m. Father Gary DeRouchey and Deacon Greg Sass will officiate.
Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to Mass Thursday morning.
Casket bearers will be her grandchildren: Jamie Schwenn, David Anderson, Philip Lesnar, Kaitlyn Poppe, Teri Lesnar, and Brenna Lesnar. There will be a spring burial in St. Joseph Cemetery in Grenville, South Dakota.
Lorraine Rita Lesnar was born on May 23, 1934, in Watertown, South Dakota to Frank and Esther (Jutting) Gaikowski. She graduated from Webster High School in 1952. A born teacher, Lorraine taught school for 47 years. She began her teaching career in a country school in 1952. In 1967 she started her long career with Big Stone City Schools, retiring in 1999. After attending many summer sessions of college, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Northern State College in 1973.
On June 18, 1955, Lorraine and Philip J. Lesnar were married in St. Otto’s Catholic Church in Webster, South Dakota. They were blessed with five children. They made their home in Milbank. Philip died in 1986.
Lorraine was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and Catholic Daughters of America. In her free time, Lorraine enjoyed nature, especially bird watching and gardening. She loved to travel with family and friends – every summer the family would take a two week vacation and she would be teaching the whole way! She collected nutcrackers, enjoyed reading and playing card and board games.
Lorraine was very social. She loved people and always started a conversation. She was a positive person and the greatest cheerleader for her family. Lorraine really appreciated hearing a great joke.
Lorraine died on March 9, 2014, having reached the age of 79.
Left with her loving memory are her children: Margaret (Tom) Anderson of Wilmot, SD; Marcia Lesnar of Milbank, SD; Maria Poppe of Yankton, SD; and Philip (Sue) Lesnar of Zimmerman, MN; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother Larry Gaikowski of Phoenix, AZ; and sister Theresa Boik of Webster, SD.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Philip; daughter Laurie Lesnar; grandson Christopher Anderson; son-in-law Tim Poppe; brothers: Donald Gaikowski, Roger Gaikowski, and Richard Gaikowski; and sisters: Pauline Sass and Marian Zollar.