Lorraine Eunice Berhow, 85, of Fertile, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at Essentia Health in Fosston, Minnesota. She was born on June 13, 1928, to Nels and Olga (Ruud) Roed, in Godfrey Township, Polk County, rural Fertile, Minnesota. Lorraine attended several country schools and graduated at the age of 17 from Fertile High School in 1945. She moved to Detroit, Michigan for a short time, returning to Thief River Falls, Minnesota to attend teachers' training for one year. She taught country school for three years.
On June 13, 1951 (her birthday), Lorraine was united in marriage to Cyril "Chuck" Berhow at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile. She began a busy life of cooking, baking, sewing, farm chores, and raising a large family of six sons and three daughters. Chuck and Lorraine also had two daughters pass away as infants. Even with her full schedule, Lorraine still found the time to participate in all the women's groups at Maple Lake Church, of which she was a lifelong member.
Once the children were grown, Lorraine continued to be very active. She began work as a cook at the Fair Meadow Nursing Home, where she remained employed for several years. She traveled to Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Canada and Norway. Her creative talents were demonstrated in her beautiful oil paintings and quilts. She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren for graduation, and made sure before she passed away that she had sewn ones for the younger children she wouldn't live to see graduate. One of Lorraine's favorite things to do in her "spare time" was play board games. It was quite a feat to beat her at any of them.
Lorraine's story wouldn't be complete without mentioning her donuts, for which she was well known in the area. She kept track of how many she had made in the past five years and the total came to 43,116!
She took great joy and pride in her family, writing in "Lorraine's Life Story," which she gave her children and grandchildren…
"How can I be so blessed to have such a great family? So many times families don't get along when they get together. It is always a joy for me to see how you all enjoy one another. Thanks for always being there for me, too! I feel I've had a good life in spite of some rough times—but because of family support, and faith in God, I keep going on!"
Lorraine was everything a mother and grandmother should be… strong, spiritual, resilient, full of fun, giving, and loving. She will live in our hearts forever.
May God Bless the Memory of Lorraine Berhow
Lorraine is survived by her six sons: Timothy, Grand Forks, ND; Dale (Linda), Erskine, MN; Mark, Fertile; Luther (Colleen), Fertile; Thomas (Suzanne), Portland, TX; and Nathan (Melody), Silt, CO; three daughters: Nancy (Scott) Parkinson, Somerset, WI; Susan (Jeff) Kronschnabel, Fertile; and Joan (Kevin) Huot, Park Rapids, MN; 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Carlton (Hazel) Roed, Mentor, MN; a sister, Arloene Stevens, Minneapolis, MN; three sisters-in-law: LilyAnn Roed, Detroit Lakes; Yvonne Berhow, Fertile; and Ora Berhow, Wisconsin; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins, as well as many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; the father of her children, Cyril "Chuck," in 2005; two daughters: Julie Ann and Donna Mae; great-granddaughter, Aurora King; great-great grandson, Paul Colucci; daughter-in-law, Judy Berhow; brother, Orvis Roed; sisters: Margaret Scales and Helen Roed.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at Maple Lake Lutheran Church, rural Fertile, Minnesota.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 27, at the church, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service at
6:30 p.m. Burial will be at the Maple Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Fertile, Minnesota.
Pallbears will be Brent Berhow, Kaleb Strand, Jorgen Berhow, Oliver Berhow, Gunnar Berhow, Aaron Kronschnabel, Samuel Huot and Michael Colucci.

Officiating
Pastor Phil Larsen,
Pastor Dan Morton

Tom Hovland, Organist
Congregational Hymns
"On Eagle's Wings"
"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow"
"The Old Rugged Cross"

Pastor Phil Larsen, Soloist
"The Lord's Prayer"
"Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam