Lorraine Schafer, age 80, of New Leipzig went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin, ND.

Lorraine Helena Rieger was born on May 14, 1938 at Athboy, SD, to John and Pauline (Sonnenfeld) Rieger.  She attended grades 1 through 5 at a country school near Athboy, and the rest of her education at Lemmon Public School, graduating from high school in 1956.  As a teenager, she worked as a waitress at Shorty's Bowling Alley; later, she worked as a bank teller at the Bank of Lemmon until her marriage.

Lorraine was united in marriage to Ernest Schafer on December 29, 1957 in Lemmon.  They began their life together on the Schafer family farm which they purchased in 1959.  Together, they farmed side by side and raised four daughters.  They moved into New Leipzig in 1982 but continued to farm until their retirement.

Lorraine was one of the first leaders of the Sunnyside 4-H Club. She was involved in many organizations, including:  the Farmerette Homemakers Club, Bits and Pieces Sewing Club, New Leipzig American Legion Auxiliary, Germans from Russia Heritage Society, and the New Leipzig Senior Meals Program.  She was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and served as youth director in her early years, and was a member of the United Methodist Women for 40 years.  After the closing of Zoar, she and Ernest attended Bethesda United Methodist Church.

Lorraine and Ernest were honored in 1989 with the Soil Conservation/Outstanding Farmer Award presented by the Slope-Hettinger Soil Conservation District.  More recently, they were privileged to be chosen as the 2017 Oktoberfest Parade Marshalls.

Throughout her life, she found much enjoyment in cooking, sewing, quilting, reading, gardening, and flowers.  She was a renowned cook, gifted all her family beautiful quilts, and together she and Ernest passed on to their daughters a love for Christ Jesus, a deep appreciation for music, and a tremendous work ethic.

Lorraine was very family-oriented.  Her grandchildren were her pride and joy; she remembered each and every one of them in her bedtime prayers.  She's forever been this family's prayer warrior and is now the sweetest guardian angel that any family could ask for. It was her hopeful wish that there be holes in the floor of Heaven, so she could lovingly watch over her family.

Lorraine is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Ernest; four daughters: Susan (Gene) Holland, Arlington, TX, Brenda (Arnie) Kosobud, Bismarck, ND, Jeanette (Delmar) Dietz, New Leipzig, ND, and Sheila (Scott) Cummings, Valley City, ND; nine grandchildren: Matthew Holland, Jamison (Caitlin) Hild, AJ (Mikayla) Hild, Delton, Derrick, and Destinee Dietz, Gabrielle, Meredith, and Joseph Cummings; six great grandchildren: Aiden Dietz, Kayson and Kinley Hild, and Quinn, Colton and Lincoln Hild; three brothers Robert (Evie) Rieger, Oscar (Lorraine) Rieger, and Ray Rieger, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Henry and Herbert Rieger, sisters Viola Zimmerman, Wilma Schopp, Elnora Kolb, and Virginia Doerr, and a brother and sister in early childhood.

Funeral services for Lorraine will be held on Monday, July 23, at 2:00PM, at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Elgin with Pastor Barb Keonig officiating. Immediately following the service, all are invited for a time of fellowship and luncheon in the Elgin Community Center, followed by a burial at Zoar United Methodist Cemetery south of New Leipzig.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 1:00 to 7:00 at Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Elgin with a family gathering from 7:00 to 8:00.  Visitation will resume one hour prior to the services at the church.  Active casket bearers will be Lorraine's grandsons, and honorary casket bearers will be her granddaughters.  Special music will be provided by Lorraine's daughters, and Brian and Gloria Roth.