It is with profound sadness that the family of Lorraine Arlie Johansen (nee:  LaRoche) announce her passing on December 27, 2022, at the age of 94 years old.  She passed away at Oliver Lodge, in Saskatoon, with family by her side.  She leaves to mourn her daughter, Beverly Johansen and her children, Chelsea Marko (Bruce Hiscock) and Joshua Marko (Tammy Goebel), including their children, Solomon and Sadie; a son, Bryan Johansen and his boys, Jesse Johansen and Jason Johansen; and a daughter, Becky Kosec (Robert Kosec) and their children, Tessa Kosec and Russell Kosec; 2 sisters, 1 brother, 2 brothers-in-law, 3 sisters-in-law, 41 neices and nephews and numerous friends.

She was preceded by her husband of 63 years, Russel Johansen; her parents, Raymond and Margaret LaRoche; 2 brothers, Vernon and Herbert; 2 sisters, Joyce and Shirley; 3 nephews and 1 niece.

Lorraine was born on December 25, 1928 in her Grandpa Bridges home in the Northern Light district.  In 1946 she went to New Westminster with her parents.  While there, she worked at Pacific Coast Packers and Collisters Dept Store.  She eventually left retail when she was accepted at Essondale as a student psychiatric nurse and completed a one year term at the hospital.  There were lectures and the hours were long, so she was ready to join her parents when they returned to Saskatchewan.

The next year was spent on the farm helping her mom with her younger siblings and general farm work, as her parents were building a new house.

It couldn’t have been all work and no play because she met Russel Johansen and on June 3, 1949, they were married at Bethania Lutheran Church.  They lived on the Johansen homestead and remained there until 2012.

Lorraine was very ambitious.  In 1968, she decided to try a nursing career, again, and entered Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon and received her Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate in August, 1969.  She worked part time at the Birch Hills Hospital until her retirement in the early 1990s.

Lorraine was a hard worker and it seemed there was nothing she couldn’t handle. She would make a hot meal for the men during harvest, take it out the field for them, then drive the 1 ton International truck,  haul the grain back to the yard and auger it into the grainery. She always boasted that she would never spill a kernel of grain on the ground and I believe this to be true.

Her hands were always busy and she was rarely idol.  To this day, her family enjoys her needle point pictures, crocheted Christmas snowflakes and felt ornaments, plus, the numerous quilts she sewed from scrap material or her crocheted afghans.

Lorraine had the gift of a green thumb. Her garden was always bountiful with rarely a weed to be found. The flowers in the yard were plentiful and she would make the most beautiful bouquets.

Lorraine was the true embodiment of community.  Like many women of her generation, she would volunteer her time to the Ladies Aid, bake pies for the annual Ladies Aid auction or for a bonspiel at the Northern Light curling rink.

It wasn’t all work and no play.  Lorraine enjoyed curling and was Skip of her own rink for many years.  She and Russel enjoyed having company over to play Kaiser or a game of cribbage.  All who stopped by could be sure they would receive a cup of coffee and a fresh piece of lefse.

Lorraine, also, had the travel bug.  During her retirement she traveled all over the world.  She visited Hawaii, China, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Europe and Africa.  She and Russel joined their good friends, Stanley and Kay Hovdebo for a cross Canada trip in the mid 1990s.  Plus, countless trips to the United States, including New Orleans and a bus trip to Disneyland.  Her last big adventure was to Antique, at the age of 85, to attend her granddaughters wedding.

Lorraine loved her family and friends.  She gave much of herself and enjoyed her time spent with them making memories that will be cherished, by all, for many years to come.

A funeral will be held in early Spring of 2023 at Bethania Lutheran Church in Northern Light, SK.  Interment to follow at Bethania Lutheran Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bethania Lutheran Church.

Martens Warman Funeral home is honoured to be entrusted with the care of Lorraine Johansen.

 

• Date : 2022-12-27
• Location : Saskatoon, SK