Lorraine Christine Erie

Lorraine Christine Erie September 29, 1922 to September 27, 2022 Age 99 and 363/365ths years Lorraine was born on September 29, 1922, to Paul and Amelia Sundeen (nee' Tauer). This was an accomplishment as Paul, a Swedish Lutheran, was initially not approved of by Amelia's German Catholic mother and was chased away on several occasions. Lorraine was baptized at St. Stephen's Catholic Church on October 29, 1922, but later confirmed at Portland Avenue Lutheran Church (later named St. James Lutheran). Paul worked as a streetcar conductor (later as motorman) for Twin City Lines and Amelia became a fulltime homemaker. The young family lived in a duplex in Minneapolis, until they purchased a newly constructed craftsman style house on 47th and Portland. The house was considered to be out in the country, and Portland was a gravel road at the time. The family expanded in 1926 with another baby girl, Betty (later Fischer), and the house filled up more with several borders, Amelia's mother Christina, and niece Dorothy Tauer. Lorraine attended nearby Field grade school (from which she could wave to Paul going by in the streetcar) and graduated from Washburn High School in 1940. After high school she worked at Sly Fox Productions, The Raleigh Company, and Travelers Insurance in clerical areas. Lorraine and her high school friend Lillian began attending dances at Gustavus Adolphus Hall on 17th Ave. and Lake Street. She met several boyfriends there including her future husband Clifford (Pete) Erie. In 1945 she quit work and joined her friend Gladys on a cross-country ride to San Diego, courtesy of Gladys' brother who had enlisted in the Marines. The girl's worked at several waitressing jobs in San Diego before they got fired from the base PX for putting too much ice cream in the malts. Soon after that, they received a box of chocolate chip cookies from home, became homesick, and took the bus back to Minneapolis. Pete was stationed in England during the war and returned home for leave after V-E day. As Pete was expecting to be shipped to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan, the couple decided to marry so that Lorraine could collect a death benefit if he didn't return. They wed on September 8, 1945, at St. James Lutheran Church after a six-week rush of preparations. By the date of the wedding Japan had surrendered and Pete had only to report briefly for mustering out. The newlyweds lived for several years with Paul and Amelia on Portland Avenue. Their first son, James Clifford, was born on August 13, 1946, and they were able to buy a house on 44th and Clinton in 1950. Daughter Barbara Ann joined the family on June 1, 1949, followed by second son Scott Paul on April 16, 1955. The family moved to 62nd Street and 13th Avenue in Richfield in 1957, and then to 75th and 16th in 1967. After Scott started school in 1960, Lorraine took a part-time job at St. James Lutheran (where the family were members) as the office secretary. Lorraine left St. James and started her final job at Employer's Overload in 1970, where she worked until retirement in 1982. Pete and Lorraine continued to live on 16th Avenue until they made their final move to Nine Mile Creek Senior Living in Bloomington in 2010 where she could receive help caring for Pete, who had Parkinson's disease. In 1971, Pete and Lorraine bought a lot on Lake Clearwater near Annandale and began construction on a four-season cabin that they used and enjoyed until 2010. In addition to her adventure in San Diego (and Pete's in England), the couple made several classic 1960 era family vacation trips -- to California in 1963 (3 kids in the back of the non-air-conditioned '57 Ford Fairlane hardtop), and Yellowstone in 1965. They traveled to Hawaii and Las Vegas several times each, Florida, Germany twice, France, and England. Pete passed away in 2013. Lorraine continued to live independently at Nine Mile Creek, and enjoyed her hobbies of reading, coloring, drinking beer, and playing cards (mostly with granddaughter Emily). Covid isolation took a toll on her health, and at age 98, she needed more help and started assisted living. She was fortunately able to stay in the same apartment until her passing. In addition to Pete, Lorraine outlived her parents, sister Betty, all 13 brothers-and-sisters in-law, and all but a few of her friends. She was pleased that she both outlived the Queen and got closer to her 100th birthday than Betty White did. Her mind was sharp, and she was able to visit with many friends and family during her last few weeks while on hospice care. She is survived by her three children -- James (Sue) Erie, Barb (Ray) Hahnfeldt, and Scott (Sharolyn) Erie, five grandchildren -- Ray (Tiffany) Hahnfeldt, Chris (Anna) Hahnfeldt, Andy (Jess) Hahnfeldt, Emily (Ben) Aust, and Mike (Tara) Erie, fourteen great-grandchildren, and special friends Ginny Banks and Carolyn Maple. During her last few weeks, she reflected on what a happy and long life she had had and said she was ready to move on and see Pete again. She was hoping they would be serving beer.

Tributes

Lorraine Christine Erie

September 29, 1922 - September 27, 2022

Tributes

Lorraine Christine Erie

September 29, 1922 - September 27, 2022

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