The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Lorraine June Skaalure, 94, passed away June 19, 2017, in Helena MT. She was born March 21, 1923, in Havre MT to G.O. Omlie and Clara Iverson. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dale, son-in-law Dennis Stevens, brother James O. Omlie, sister-in law Mary Wright Omlie, sister-in-law Thelma Skaalure Lawrenson, and brother-in-law Ben Lawrenson. She is survived by her sister Virginia Kapernick, brother Don Omlie (Shirley), brother-in-law and sister-in-law Glenn and Jere Skaalure, sister-in-law Dell Everaert, 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and five children: Arne (Cindy), Signe, Kirsten (Ron), Kevin (Kristine) and Heidi (Craig).

Lorraine was a "city girl" before meeting Dale, the love of her life, at a Luther League convention while she attended Northern Montana College in Havre. After graduating from Concordia College-Moorhead MN and teaching a year at Havre High, she married that Big Sandy farmer/rancher, and started new careers of farming and raising a family on the Skaalure homestead. Lorraine was actively involved with Christ Lutheran Church, its Ladies Aid, council and Sunday School, the Rotary Club, the Lone Tree Women's Club, Chouteau County Republicans, and Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. Lorraine and Dale were married 68 years until he died in 2014.

Lorraine and Dale loved to travel and saw many places together-two highlights being a trip to Helsinki, Finland in 1963 for a Lutheran World Federation meeting, and in 1996 a 50th wedding anniversary trip to Disney World with their 5 children and their families. Faith, family, country, friends, community and their love for each other were Lorraine and Dale's shared passions. Recently in her own words: "I love our family most of all. They have been good helpers, people to be proud of, and the attention given me in my later years has been a real blessing." Mom Lorraine was too modest to admit she was the Blessing of Blessings to her family.

Lorraine was a caring, sharing, kind and faith-filled wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She was a friend to many who knew her by her quick wit, generosity, confidence and loving ways. Lorraine was grateful for the professionalism and care of the Touchmark staff and the companionship of the many new friends she and Dale made there the last six years.

Memorials are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church, Big Sandy MT, or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, Kalispell MT. Funeral services were at 2pm, Sunday, June 25, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Helena MT. Please visit http://www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Lorraine.

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