M. Lorraine Wagnild, 91
M. Lorraine Wagnild passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, at Buffalo Hill Terrace.
She was born June 15, 1927, an only child to Robert and Genevieve Baird in Grafton, North Dakota. She grew up on a small farm outside of Grafton and graduated from high school in 1945. She then graduated from Dakota Business College in Fargo, North Dakota, where she met and fell in love with her life partner C. Edwin Wagnild. They were then married on a below-zero day Jan.17, 1948, in Fargo. After working in Fargo they went on vacation to the Flathead Valley and fell in love with this beautiful place. They moved to Kalispell where Ed was self-employed his whole career. She then had a son and daughter. When Sandy entered school, Lorraine started her career as the office manager/bookkeeper at Immanuel Lutheran Home in 1961. She worked with three administrators and when the board was looking for the fourth, they did not have far to look. She enjoyed her time as administrator and surrounded herself with a dedicated and knowledgeable staff. During this time the board started the planning and building of Buffalo Hill Terrace. She retired in June 1989 with a celebration in the new Buffalo Hill Terrace.
Lorraine and Ed loved to travel and saw all 50 states and six continents. She loved to volunteer at Christian Science Reading Room, Buffalo Hill Terrace Store and Peterson School Library over the years. She was a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in Kalispell. She also belonged to Chapter AB, PEO, Sons of Norway and Soroptimists. She might not have been born a Norwegian but she became one in heart with her talent of making and teaching others on the art of lefse making. She also made the best pies. You have taught us well Mom. We will soldier on.
She is survived by son, Bob (Shelley), and daughter Sandy (Joe) Magnan of Kalispell; grandchildren, Ryan (Ashley) Wagnild of Billings, Megan (Josh) Shepard of Kalispell, Andrea (Joel) Christensen, and Heather (Josh) Peters of Clinton; and great-grandchildren, Jordan Wagnild, Samantha, Kassidy, Haeli Shepard and Barrett Peters. Lorraine is also survived by a sister-in-law, several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of Buffalo Hill Terrace for their care and kindness to Lorraine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Lorraine’s name can be made to the Buffalo Hill Terrace Employee Fund, 40 Claremont, Kalispell, MT 59901; or First Church of Christ, Scientist, 502 W. Wyoming St, Kalispell, MT 59901.
A celebration of life will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, at Village Greens Community Center, 195 W. Nicklaus Ave., Kalispell, MT Inurnment will be at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.