Obituary: O’Bleness, Lorraine Ann
Age 84
She died at Hospice House in Spokane.
After a childhood in northern Minnesota, Lorraine graduated from Kellogg High School in 1946 and met Gordon at the old Wardner Kingdom Hall used by the Kellogg Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
He was immediately attracted to the beautiful eighteen year-old and he became fast friends with her brothers.
They married in 1948 and lived in Coeur d’Alene, where they were pioneers, as Jehovah’s Witnesses call their full time evangelizers.
Lorraine was determined that her children would have music lessons and never have to change schools.
They went to Borah, Coeur d’Alene Junior and High Schools and learned to play the trumpet, guitar, piano, and violin.
By living frugally Lorraine was able to be a stay-at-home mom while Gordon worked at North Idaho College, Diamond National sawmill, and as a house building contractor.
Lorraine was a supportive and loving wife while her husband also did volunteer work as the Coordinator of the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
After the children left home, Lorraine and Gordon moved to Spokane’s south side where they served their God along with the Sunset Hill, South Perry, and South Hill Congregations.
They also did building maintenance and managed apartments.
They later supplemented their retirement income at craft shows selling wooden puzzle boxes made by Gordon.
During this time Gordon served as an elder and Lorraine continued to be very active in the ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses, specializing, you might say, in offering the Watchtower and Awake!
to business people.
Lorraine was a model Christian wife and mother.
She had firm confidence in her creator’s promise to bring peace to the earth, end the present wickedness and suffering, and resurrect to perfect life those in His memory.
We look forward to seeing her again in that righteous new world.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bud Becklund, and her in-laws, Ivan and Hazel O’Bleness.
She is survived by Gordon, her husband of 65 years, and brother Gene Becklund.
She has three children: Mark, Nathan, and Julie.
Ten grand-children: Abram, Levi, Caleb, Nichole, Bonnie, Crystal, Tiffanie, Mellissa, Ryan, and Zach.
Eleven great-grand children: Annalise, Amelia, Blake, Reid, Thailer, Trevor, Takoda, Terrence, Clint, Lorelai, and Frankee.
A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2405 East 57th Avenue, Spokane, WA, on Wednesday evening, August 7, at 6:30 PM.
It will be officiated by a close family friend, Jeff Siler.