Funeral services for Lorraine W. Hirning, age 91 of New Salem, formerly of Elgin, will be held at 2:00pm MT on Friday, December 30, 2011 at Hope Congregational Church in Elgin. Pastor Bill Bradley will officiate with burial in the Hope Congregational Cemetery in Elgin.

Special music will be provided by Mona Hands and Pastor Bill Bradley.

Serving as casketbearers are Kris Lahn, Scott Reinke, Donald Roth, Darwin Roth, and Clarence Roth Jr., and Mark Peterson

LORRAINE W. GRUEBELE was born on May 13, 1920 in Elgin, ND to William and Sara (Diehl) Gruebele. She attended school in Elgin. On October 26, 1941, she was united in marriage to Oscar Hirning in Elgin. Following their marriage, they lived for a short time on a farm north of Burt until Oscar was called into active duty during WWII. Following his return, the Hirning's purchased a farm west of Carson. Three children were born to this union, Doris, Gerald, and Glen.

The Hirnings farmed together enjoying the various aspects of agriculture. She especially enjoyed working with the dairy cattle. They retired and moved into Elgin in 1980. Her husband, Oscar passed away in 1993 and she continued to live in Elgin. When her health began to fail, she moved to the Edgewood Vista in Bismarck. Since July of 2008, she has resided at Elm Crest Manor in New Salem. She passed from this life there on Monday, December 26, 2011 at the age of 91 years, 7 months, and 13 days.

Lorraine was known for her cooking skills and loved to spend time growing vegetables and flowers, and always kept a neat and tidy house and yard.

Surviving family members include her daughter and son-in-law, Doris and Rich Ott, Bismarck, ND; son and daughter-in-law, Gerald and Pauline Hirning, Elk River, MN; 4 grandchildren, Scott (Angela) Reinke, Fargo, ND; Melissa Hirning, Heidi (Kris) Lahn, Sherri Hirning, all of suburban Minneapolis, MN; 5 great grandchildren, Alexandra Reinke, Blake Lahn, Gavin Lahn, Addison Lahn, and Chase Lahn, and her brother and sister-in-law, Reinhardt and Elvera Gruebele, Glen Ullin, ND; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Oscar, and infant son, Glen Hirning, and one sister, Eleanor Roth.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 29, from 1:00 to 2:00pm CT at the Elm Crest Manor in New Salem, and on Friday one hour prior to services at the Hope Congregational Church in Elgin.