A memorial service for Lorraine Mary Gerdes, age 86, of Pierre, formerly a longtime resident of Lemmon who passed away on Sunday morning, March 20, at the Maryhouse in Pierre, SD, will be Monday May 23rd at 10 AM at Spencer Memorial Presbyterian Church in Lemmon. Inurnment will be at 3 PM at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.


Lorraine was born December 1, 1918 in Tacoma, WA to William C. and Genevieve (Ostrum) Boyle. She grew up the daughter of a railroad man in Selfridge, ND; LaPlant, SD and Eagle Butte, SD, graduating from Eagle Butte High School in 1935. She attended Aberdeen Business College and graduated at the top of her secretarial class in 1936. She was united in marriage to Cyril "Bud" Fredrick Gerdes on June 4, 1939 at Eagle Butte, SD.


Shortly after graduation from business college, Lorraine began her life long career as a legal secretary with Gorsuch & Huntsinger, attorneys at law. During Bud's three and a half years overseas with the US Army in World War II, Lorraine lived and worked in Aberdeen. In 1947, Bud and Lorraine moved to Lemmon, where they lived for the remainder of their married life, punctuated after retirement with annual winter trips to Ft. Walton Beach, FL. There, Lorraine resumed her legal secretarial career and worked for many years with Johnson & Kelley. She was a nurturing mentor to her children who tirelessly reminded them to always do their best. Perhaps her greatest legacy is her visionary advocacy for equal work place rights for women, begun long before the advent of women's advocacy organizations and equal rights legislation.


A source of great joy was her membership in Chapter AH of the PEO sisterhood, in which she held several offices, including chapter president. She received her 50 year pin in 2002. She was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary and Spencer Memorial Church women's activities. Lorraine loved bridge and her bridge friends, never missing a chance to play another match. She and Bud were fixtures at the Lemmon Country Club and loved the social side of the game of golf.


Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, David A. and Karen A. Gerdes, Ft. Pierre, SD; Karl F. Gerdes and Dr. Pamela Rohrich, El Cerrito, CA; two grandchildren Amy Gerdes, Sioux Falls, SD and Jim Gerdes, Spearfish, SD; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert E. and Giovanna M. Boyle, Woodridge, IL; Dr.Victor D. and Arlene L. Boyle, Colbert, WA.


She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bud, two brothers and an infant grandson, John Frederick Gerdes.