Frances Lorraine Rupe

Frances Lorraine Rupe

Sept. 4, 1920 - Nov. 30, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. -- Frances Lorraine Rupe, 94, passed away Nov, 30, 2014, at the Kearney hospital.

Lorraine was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, to Joseph Henderson Wood and Vera Marie (Brown) Wood. The oldest of three children, Lorraine spent her early childhood north of Henry, Nebraska. The family moved to the area Cambridge in 1924, and settled on a farm four miles west of town. Lorraine attended a country school a mile north of where they lived. In 1930, the family moved to the Orafina community, one and three fourth miles east of town.

Lorraine attended school at Orafino, participating in various activities, from track to school plays and playing softball, or as Lorraine reminded her grandkids, it was called "kitten ball." That experience stayed with her all her life as she dearly loved watching baseball and being at the ballpark.

Lorraine graduated from Orafino School in 1938, one of seven graduates. She was very proud of her Orafino education, hosting many annual alumni gatherings around Memorial Day.

Lorraine married Harvey Edward Rupe on May 25, 1938, in Norton, Kansas, and a five-year-old Harvey Rupe Jr. came with the deal! Their family grew over the next ten years with the arrival of three daughters: Peggy Jean, Barbara Kay and Virginia Sue.

They farmed in the Eustis area, raising cattle and horses and Harvey farmed with horses until 1942, when they were able to purchase a tractor to farm with...."quite a step up in those days."

Harvey and Lorraine moved to Cambridge in 1959, with their two youngest daughters. Harvey bought a truck and hauled cattle; Lorraine went to work at the new hospital as a nurse's aide. She worked there five and half years. After that, she worked for the Cambridge Coop as a bookkeeper for five years and her next job took her to work for the First National Bank where she worked for 15 years.

Lorraine was always involved in the community, staying active at the Thrift Shop and Senior Center and whereever she felt her services were needed.

Lorraine was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge and belonged to the Martha Circle. The Senior Center recognized Lorraine for serving on the board of directors for many years of dedicated service, with a special certificate of which she was very humbled and extremely proud to have received. In 1998, she received a special recognition from the UMW association.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Lyle Wood; husband, Harvey Edward Rupe; son, Harvey Rupe Jr.; sons-in-law, Thomas Whisler and Larry Gagna.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Peggy Whisler of Lincoln, Nebraska, Barbara Gagna of Denver, Colorado, and Virginia Rauch (Ken) of Billings, Montana; grandchildren, Eddie and Terri Rupe of Eustis, Cheri and Jim Rolfes of Sutton, Nebraska, Clint Rupe of Indianola, Nebraska, Patrick and Karla Whisler of Waverly, Nebraska, Charles and Erica Whisler of Staplehurst, Nebraska, Greg and Terri Whisler of Lincoln; Michelle and Shane Zethier of Omaha, Nebraska, Paula Stanton of Denver, Kim and Joseph Bonfiglio of Denver, Robin Stanton of Denver, Lee and Teresa Gagna of Denver, Kevin and Tiffany Rauch of Billings and Krystal and Jason Burns of Liberty Lake, Washington; one sister, Dela Mae Hofferber of Geneva, Nebraska; and daughter-in-law, Madeline Rupe of Hastings, Nebraska. Lorraine was blessed with 31 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors.

Services will be Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge at 11 a.m. A lunch will follow the services and burial will be at the Eustis Cemetery in Eustis, Nebraska, Saturday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Senior Center in Cambridge or Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge.

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.