Lorraine Parsons

Lorraine Anita Parsons was born July 5, 1934 to Rev. Rudolph and Frieda (Beyer) Schroeder in Austin, Minnesota. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Austin and later confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tyler, Minnesota. She grew up in Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School, Class of 1952. She was united in marriage to Charles Parsons on March 1, 1953 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tyler. Their union was blessed with four daughters, Becky, Julie, Susan, and Jenifer, and 42 years of marriage together. The couple made their home in Lake Benton, Minnesota where they raised their family. Over the years Lorraine worked for the Tyler Hospital as a nurses aid, Meyer’s Clothing, and the Lake Benton Mercantile. Charles died in 1995 and Lorraine continued to live at her home in Lake Benton. In 2010, she became a resident at Central Minnesota Senior Care in Lake Benton. On Sunday, April 15, 2012 she entered Tyler Healthcare Center where she died on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the age of 77 years, 9 months, and 16 days.

Lorraine was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake Benton, Minnesota. She was active in the congregation serving in the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Dorcas Society. She was a member of the Town and Country Study Club, and Ladies Bridge Club. In her earlier years, she enjoyed bowling, golf, gardening, tennis, and snowmobiling. In her later years, she enjoyed golf, knitting, and playing cards with her friends and family. It was very evident to all who knew her that Lorraine treasured the time spent with her daughters and their families.

She is survived by her four daughters, Becky (Gary) Fehl of Greendale, Wisconsin, Julie (Mike) Thooft of Lake Benton, Minnesota, Susan Jenson (Al Martin) of Russell, Minnesota, and Jenifer (Bill) Vollmer of Tyler, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren, Sarah (Jeff) Ross, Joshua and Zachary Fehl, Becky (Chad) Newell, Varya (Lon) Dykstra, Mollie (Chad) Herman, Andy (Jamie) Jenson, Melissa (Tyler) Costine, Ashley Christensen, Brittany Christensen (Steve Cam), and Aaron Christensen; 15 great-grandchildren, Jacob and Abigail Ross, Alexus Brown, Logan, Mason, and Gavin Dykstra, McKenzy, Mitchell, and Mason Herman, Abigail Jenson, Noah and Ava Costine, Hayden and Dyllen Yockey, and Hunter Cam; a sister, Eunice (Jim) Hansen of Bloomington, Minnesota; a sister-in-law, Mae Schroeder of Austin, Minnesota, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends; both life-long, and those who cared for her in so many ways at Central Minnesota Senior Care.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Parsons; parents, Rev. R.F. and Frieda Schroeder; father and mother-in-law L.L. “Dutch” and LaVoy Parsons; a brother, Robert Schroeder; sister, Lorna Schnell; brother-in-law, Clarence Schnell; nephew, Tom Schnell; and son-in-law, Woody Drew.