Lorraine May (Tosevigen) KLEMENSEN

TOSEVIGEN, KLEMENSEN, BEDDOW, MEEDER, EMDIA, MRAZ, DENTINGER, SIMKINS, MANSMITH, BORCHARDT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2015 at 15:29:15

June 18, 1929 --- October 23, 2015

Lorraine Klemensen, 86, of Clarion passed away Friday, October 23, 2015, at Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion. Funeral services for Lorraine Klemensen will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at First Lutheran Church, 420 1st Street North West in Clarion, with Pastor Nicole Woodley officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Lorraine May Tosevigen was born June 18, 1929 in her parents’ home on Jefferson Street in Mason City, Iowa. She and her twin brother, Raymond Edward, were the second set of twins born to Peter and Ora May (Beddow) Tosevigen. Lorraine had to quit school when she was in the 8th grade after her father died. She always regretted this and encouraged her children and grandchildren to do their best in school.

On July 1, 1946, Lorraine was united in marriage to Harold Richard Klemensen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa; three children were born to this union. She had met Harold’s mother, Leona, while working at her first job after leaving school, and Leona later asked her to write to her son who was serving in the Army. From this correspondence a love grew that lasted until Harold’s death in 2006.

Lorraine did not work outside the home after her marriage but was a dedicated mother and wife. For a few years she also babysat for a neighboring family until the family moved from Mason City to Waterloo in 1963 after Harold was transferred. In 1985 she and Harold moved to Clarion to be closer to her daughter and her family.

For years Lorraine and Harold watched their granddaughters during the day while their daughter worked. During the summer Lorraine would take care of the girls in the morning while Harold golfed; then in the afternoon Harold would take the girls to the swimming pool or park. Lorraine also enjoyed helping her granddaughters change into and out of their costumes for dance recitals.

After Harold’s death, Lorraine moved to the Southtown Apartments in 2007. She enjoyed going to Hardees in the mornings and afternoons with her best friend, Evelyn Meeder, where they enjoyed the company of many friends. In May 2014 Lorraine became a resident of the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center. The staff there made her feel loved and well taken care of, especially the last few days of her life.

Lorraine is survived by her three children – Richard and his wife Nancy Emdia of Des Moines, Iowa; Kristine Mraz and her husband Dennis of Clarion; and Terry and his wife Catherine Dentinger of Brooklyn, New York; eight grandchildren – Thomas, Patrick, Michelle, Stacey, Jamie, Sara, Jennifer and Adam; eleven great-grandchildren – Delane, Drake, Stephanie, Ashley, Patrick, Kyle, Emily, Roland, Abigail, Logan and Finley; sister-in-law Pearl Simkins and her husband George of Madrid, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband Harold; her parents; three brothers – Harold (Willie) Mansmith, Donald Tosevigen and Raymond Tosevigen – and one sister, Violet Borchardt.

Ewing Funeral Home -- Clarion, Iowa
http://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/lorraine-m-tosevigen-klemensen/