Lorraine C. (Carroll) Greene, 86, of Walnut Creek, California, died August 11, 2014 after a long battle with lung cancer.
She was the seventh and last child of James and Helena (Schobert) Carroll, born on February 18, 1928 in Caledonia, Minnesota.
Her early life was spent on a farm in the Winnebago Valley of Southeast Minnesota with no electricity, running water or central heat. Her family led a simple life. With four distinct seasons there was always work to be done, but they managed to have a fulfilling social life with friends and neighbors of enjoying the outdoor life. There was a steady stream of picnics and fish fries in the summer months and skiing and sledding during the winter. Lorraine loved reading and could frequently be found in her apple tree hideaway, only to be lured down with homemade ice cream or fudge. She was nicknamed “Rusty” by some for her bright red hair.
Her father died of consumption when she was eight years old. Since her brothers and sisters had moved on to families of their own or the military life, her mother sold the farm and they moved into town. This thrilled Lorraine because it was the first time she experienced running water, indoor plumbing and a sidewalk on which to roller-skate. She was a life-long Roman Catholic, active in aspects of parish life and charities.
At the age of 18, she graduated from Caledonia High School and started work as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. She eventually transferred to Redwood Falls, Minnesota, where she met Joseph Greene, a lineman for the company. She was located on the second floor of the telephone building and he would wave as he passed by, hanging from the ladder truck. Their dates were evenings with friends, enjoying music and dancing at the local establishments. They married on November 26, 1949, in Caledonia.
Five children were born over the next eleven years, each in a different city, before finally settling in the beautiful mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Once all the children were in school, she started working at the local school cafeterias. Her excellent cooking skills quickly led to managerial positions and she became the toast of the Jefferson County School System, frequently hosting the county administrators for their lunch meetings. She also developed a passion for white-water river rafting, with notable trips on the Arkansas River in Colorado, the Snake River in Idaho, the Green River in Utah, and the Missouri River in Montana. After her youngest graduated from Evergreen High School, Lorraine and Joe moved to Great Falls, Montana, with a transfer in his company.
After retirement, she and Joe lived in several locales. After a short residency in Phoenix, Arizona, they moved to San Francisco. They then moved to southern California, with residencies in Encinitas and Dana Point. Dana Point was a favorite for its walking distance to the ocean. They eventually migrated back to northern California, spending their recent years in Walnut Creek, exploring the San Francisco Bay area through the use of its convenient public transport system. Along the way, watching her children mature and become successful adults was her greatest joy.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph, of Walnut Creek; son, Steven (Ann), Los Alamos, New Mexico; son, Daniel (LeAnne), Seneca, South Carolina, with grandsons, Nicholas and Corey; daughter, Kathleen “Kate” Greene, Carmichael, California; daughter, Sandra Coblentz (Matthew), Pleasanton, California, with grandchildren, Caitlin, Ian and Sarah; daughter, Gretchen Mack (Craig), Medinah, Illinois, with granddaughters, Anna Grace and Marissa; her sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Ferguson, Rochester, Minnesota; and sister, Mary Lewis, Eitzen, Minnesota.
Her parents; brothers, Verle, John and William; and sister Dorothy predecease her.
Burial was at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on August 14, 2014. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Walnut Creek.