Lorraine Charlotte (Benson) Fornes, age 90, of Kathryn, ND passed away Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Mercy Hospital, Valley City, ND. Lorraine was born June 5, 1934, in the family home in Thordenskjold Township in Barnes County, near Nome, ND to Carl and Lisa (Anderson) Benson. She attended school at Eastedge School #31 in Eastedge, ND for ten years and graduated from Enderlin High School in 1952. Growing up, Lorraine was active in Sunday school, school activities, and 4-H.

Lorraine was united in marriage to Melvin Lloyd Fornes on December 30, 1953. Lorraine and Melvin had three children: Lorin, Lorinda, and Melisa. They raised their family, farmed, and registered Herefords on the Standing Rock Farm in Preston Township in Ransom County.

A woman of strong faith and strong will, Lorraine was baptized and confirmed in Waldheim Lutheran Church. She taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday school for many years. She was also active in Ladies Aid where she helped make lefse and stitched quilts for the annual church dinner and bazaar.

After graduation in the summer of 1952, Lorraine attended college for eight weeks to earn her teaching license and taught for two years in rural schools; one year in Helendale Township in Richland County south of Leonard, ND, and one year in the Lindvold School, in Thordenskjold Township, near Eastedge, ND. She returned to college in 1969 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1972 from Valley City State University. Lorraine taught in Lisbon Public School mostly as a 3rd Grade teacher for 23 years. She was a substitute teacher at several area schools after retiring.

Lorraine was proud of her Norwegian heritage and family was also very important to her. She took many trips with family members to places including Norway, Alaska, Canada, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, and the state of Washington to visit and stay in touch with family.  When she was able, she greatly enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s music, school and church activities.

Over the years, Lorraine was actively involved in many organizations. She was a founding member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Pi Chapter, the Preston Homemakers club, and was a member of the North Dakota Retired Teachers Association Valley City Chapter. She made many lifelong friends from her involvement in these groups. Her hobbies included reading, quilting, sewing, volunteering, getting together with friends, and crafting.

Lorraine is survived by her three children: Lorin Fornes, Kathryn; Lorinda (Doug) Morrison, Justin, TX; Melisa (Bryan) Duncan, Fargo; four grandchildren – Tina Morrison, Kenneth Morrison, Ty Duncan and Gabriel Duncan; brother-in-law Walter Kratz; sisters-in-law Eunice Fornes, Joyce Benson and Sandy Hagan Benson Carlson, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers Bob, Earle, and Milo Benson, sisters Donna Kratz and Judy Kopperud, in-laws Mary Ann Benson, Ruby Benson, Merlin Fornes, Wendell Kopperud and Jeanne Benson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Waldheim Lutheran Church near Kathryn, ND. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be at the Waldheim Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Kathryn, ND. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.