Lorraine Knecht

Lorraine Knecht, 91, of Hillsboro, ND died peacefully at Sanford Health Hillsboro Hospital on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Florence Lorraine Wilson was born to James Robert “Bob” and Bessie Bell (Tomlin) Wilson on November 25, 1923 in the family farm home near Merricourt, ND. Lorraine grew up on the family farm and attended a rural school in Hamburg Township. She graduated from Monango High School in 1940. Lorraine graduated from North Dakota State Normal and Industrial School at Ellendale with a bachelors degree in home economics. Lorraine taught home economics at Wimbledon High School in Wimbledon, ND for one year. It was there that she was introduced to John Knecht by his mother. Lorraine and John were married on November 25, 1946 at First United Methodist Church in Fargo, ND. They made their home in a trailer house on the campus of NDAC (now NDSU). Lorraine worked as permanent 4H club agent in Clay County, Minnesota while John attended NDAC. She was involved with 4H for many years as a leader. After John finished college they briefly lived in Jamestown, ND and later in Wimbledon. In 1952 they moved to her parents’ farm. Farming was pretty tough in those years and when John was offered a job in the Soil Conservation Service they moved to Napoleon, ND in December of 1954. Lorraine taught at Napoleon High School. Lorraine and John moved to Langdon in 1962. She taught at Langdon High School from 1964 until 1972 when they moved to Hillsboro, ND. Lorraine worked at several part-time jobs in Hillsboro including at a garden center and as an activities aide at the Hillsboro Nursing Home, as well as substitute teaching. Besides her working outside of home, she was a full time wife and mother. Her keen organizational skills helped her to accomplish many things. The kitchen at Lorraine’s home was the center of her family’s universe. The aroma from her delicious cooking and baking filled the atmosphere of her family’s life. She was a gracious hostess who served family and friends countless meals and coffee parties. A thoughtful and caring person, she wrote thousands of letters and personal notes to relatives and friends in need of a kind word, an expression of care and concern, or congratulations for an achievement. She remembered so many people’s birthdays and anniversaries and sent cards to celebrate the occasions. Lorraine enjoyed many things in life. She was active in her church and served there in many ways. Homemaker’s Club was very special to her. Lorraine and John faithfully attended the activities and school programs of their children and grandchildren. She doted over her flower gardens and house plants. The flowers often served as centerpieces on the kitchen table. John and Lorraine traveled to many places. They ventured to 48 of the states and most Canadian provinces. Overseas trips included visits to the British Isles and Germany and Switzerland. Lorraine is survived by her daughter, Susan Cheatley, and son, Jim (Deb) all of Hillsboro; son Jeff (Suzette Munnik) of Pasadena, CA; and daughter Janice (Brian) Glaeske of Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law Becky Lutz of Valley City, ND and Ruth Rose of Cedar Park, TX; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; sister, Harriet White; brother, Richard B. Wilson; and son John R. “Jack” and daughter-in-law Gayle (Wenzel) Knecht; brothers-in-law, Leland White and Edward William “Bill” Knecht; and sisters-in-law, Eileen Wilson and True Millons.