Watch Lorraine's Funeral Service

Lorraine Flatau, age 92, of Mahnomen, MN died on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 at Perham Health in Perham, MN.
Lorraine Ida was born to Walter and Ida (Flatau) Carow on May 26, 1929. She grew up on a farm near Edgeley, ND and graduated from High School in 1946. Lorraine attended Jamestown Business College and substituted for a short time as the bookkeeper at Gamble-Robinson. She went to help care for her sister's new baby in Lincoln, NE and her brother's baby, ending up in Perham. That summer, she met Vernon Flatau and they were married November 16, 1948 in Edgeley. Vernon had purchased his grandfather Theodore's farm in 1947, and they farmed full time for 15 years. In 1962, they moved to Mahnomen where Vernon worked as the Director of ASCS. Until recently, Lorraine still managed their farm finances. She also worked outside the home as a crop enumerator for the state of Minnesota from 1973-1993.
Lorraine has been an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for 60 years, serving as both LWML and Church Treasurer from 1998-2020. As a member of American Legion Auxiliary (50 yrs), she enjoyed planning events, making/delivering lap quilts and planning bingo for area veterans. She volunteered for numerous other organizations as well and loved Red Hats. As part of being a great homemaker, she was an avid gardener. She canned thousands of jars of fruits and vegetables, still making jam just a couple years ago. Though her vegetable garden got smaller as the years went on, she loved to have fresh vegetables at every summer meal. She especially loved flower gardening with all varieties of flowers in pots and beds throughout her yard. You could never give her too many 6 packs for Mother's Day. As a couple they enjoyed playing cards, golfing and traveling. Lorraine was proud to have traveled to 49 of the 50 states and always planned to go to Hawaii. She was a dedicated Minnesota Twins fan and watched them faithfully. She loved to play bridge, hosted the best family parties with all the "good china" and made everyone's favorite dishes.
Lorraine is survived by five children; three daughters: Kathlyn Steinmetz, Perham; Nancy (Mike) Flicek, Hagerstown, MD, Terry (Darvin) Schoenborn, Mahnomen; two sons, Kevin (Kathy) Flatau, Alexandria, MN, Rick Flatau, Detroit Lakes, MN; eight grandchildren: Ami (Manolo), Kari (Howard), Scott (Wendy), Amanda (Mike), David, Brent (Amber), Ashley (Kyle), and Christopher (Stacey); 17 great-grandchildren or step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon in 2008; infant son, Joseph; son-in-law, Ken Steinmetz; her parents; brothers and spouses: Arthur (Nettie), Alvin (Carol), Ervin, and Robert (Charlotte); sisters and spouses: Esther (Joe) Smith, and Ellanore (Thomas) Brennan; and her in-laws: Rodney (Marian) Flatau, Violet (Walter) Johnson, Rhoda Koehnen, and Bud Koehnen.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, May 9, 2022 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mahnomen. Visitation will be held on hour before the funeral at the church. Burial will take place at Flatau Family Cemetery, rural Frazee, MN, at 3:00 p.m.

Memorials or cards may be sent to PO Box 421, Mahnomen, MN. 56557 or the following organizations:

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
PO Box 328
Mahnomen MN 56557

Mahnomen County Historical Society
PO Box 123
Mahnomen MN 56557