Lorraine Avis Spence

Lorraine Avis Spence was born Lorraine Avis Woodhouse on January 16th, 1928, to William Percy Woodhouse & Avis Wilkins Woodhouse in Mason City, IA. She spent most of her childhood in the small town of Calmer, IA. She was the middle child who came eight years after her older sister Beverly and five years before her baby sister Margie. Lorraine's parents were loving, happy people. Her father worked for the railroad and her mother stayed home to raise the family. The great depression was underway during Lorraine's childhood, so she was familiar with the saying "Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without." These were shaping times in Lorraine's early life, and they had a great impact on her values and the way she chose to live as an adult. Lorraine's parents moved the family to Minneapolis in the late 1930's. After Graduating high school Lorraine took a job at a local bank as a bookkeeper and worked until she met her first husband Gordon Spencer. Lorraine met Gordon, a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines at a local bar where all the airline employees from Minneapolis would hang out. Gordon and Lorraine were married in 1949 and had their first child Craig in 1951. After Craig came, Cheryl in 1952. Gordon was offered a new position with the airlines and moved the family across the country to the state of Washington. Life was sweet but quiet for Lorraine. She had two more children, Sandy 1954 and Scott 1957. On the tragic day of December 11, 1957, Lorraine lost her first husband to a building fire. Lorraine's parents flew out to Washington immediately and made plans to bring her and the children back home to Minneapolis. Lorraine and the children lived with her parents for six months after Gordon's death. While visiting a friend she met a tall, handsome man named Wesley Spence who went by the name of Jim. Lorraine and Jim fell in love and got married on January 16, 1959. Just sixteen days after they met. The two later shared a daughter who was lost at birth and a son Terry, born in 1961. The couple purchased a lake home and spent their time as a family together there. When Lorraine talked about her life she would smile, laugh and tell stories of happy memories, good times and bad. She had a deep understanding of what really mattered in life and modeled that in the way she lived hers. Lorriane went on to become a grandmother of 18 and a great-grandmother of 30. She was lovingly referred to as "Cabin Grandma" and enjoyed spending time around the fire and at the lake with her family. She was a sensational baker, avid reader and the heart of her family. She will be forever missed. She left a legacy of love, laughter and kindness that will never be forgotten. She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, husbands and baby girl. Funeral service to be held on Thursday, September 12, at 11 AM at Washburn-McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel. Visitation one hour prior. Interment at 1:30 PM at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Tributes

Lorraine Avis Spence

January 16, 1928 - September 9, 2024

Tributes

Lorraine Avis Spence

January 16, 1928 - September 9, 2024

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