Lorraine Bakke
Lorraine Bakke, 89, Forest City, passed away Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City. Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 8, at Fertile Lutheran Church, Fertile, with Lay Minister David Halverson officiating. Burial was held in Brush Point Cemetery, Fertile. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Fertile Lutheran Church, 602 W. Washington St., Fertile, or Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd St. SE, Mason City.
Velma Lorraine Bakke was born Sept. 7, 1926 on a farm near Kensett, the oldest child of four children born to Amos and Edna (Tvedt) Gilbertson. Lorraine was baptized Oct. 3, 1926 at Elk Creek Lutheran Church rural Kensett. She was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, Joice, July 13, 1941.
In 1929, the family moved to the Hanlontown area, where Lorraine attended country school and graduated from Hanlontown High School in 1944.
After high school, she began work as a bookkeeper for the Farmers Coop Elevator, Hanlontown, where she met her future husband, Iner R. (Ray) Bakke. Ray and Lorraine were married Aug. 3, 1947, and were together for 59 years until his death in early 2007.
Lorraine was a homemaker until all the children were in school. She started work for G&H Motor Parts, Forest City, in 1965. In 1971, she moved to Winnebago Industries in the payroll department where she became paymaster. This is a position she held until her retirement in 1990. In the days before automatic deposit, she was the most popular lady at the factory on Fridays, when she delivered payroll checks.
After retirement, Ray and Lorraine spent winters in Arizona and later in Harlingen, Texas.
An active member of Fertile Lutheran Church, she was involved in the Ladies Aid and treasurer of the church for many years. Lorraine was also an active volunteer for Mercy Family Care at the Lake Mills and Forest City offices, amassing more than 4,500 hours.
As a couple, Ray and Lorraine were avid dancers, spending many good times at the VFW and the Surf Ballroom. They even taught ballroom dancing for several years for NIACC. Lorraine became an avid viewer of Dancing with the Stars, complete with a tablet, so she could keep score and follow the action from week to week. She had a phenomenal memory and could tell who was related to whom, where they lived, and when they had died.
Lorraine is survived by her three children; Steven (Anne), Forest City; Craig (Judy), Bucklin, Mo.; and Carolyn Swanson, Urbandale; six grandchildren: Aaron Bakke (Keiru), Newark, Calif.; Laura Bakke, Seattle, Wash.; Ryan Bakke (Jana), Urbandale; Rachel Holmberg (Trent), Adel; Tim Colby (Tami), Ankeny; and Katy Blomgren (James), Cumming; 12 great-grandchildren: Langston and Celestina Bakke; Alayna, Ashlyn, and Ajay Bakke; Bennett, Walker, and Harper Holmberg; Aidan and Keaton Colby; Hunter and Madelyn Blomgren; two step-granddaughters: Stacy Moore, Ogden, Utah; and Kristine Swanson-Jordal, Mentone, Calif.; three step-great-grandchildren: Chandler and Travis Moore; and Luke Swanson-Jordal; sister, Darlene Ziesmer, Garner; and brother, James Gilbertson (Judy), Ackley; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her best friend of more than 60 years, Romane Lovik.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray; son-in-law, Allan Swanson; sister, Shirley Sheimo; and several nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in law.
