Lorraine Kruckeberg

To attend the service via Zoom on Monday February 8th at 10:00a.m. the link is: https://zoom.us/j/91093252300?pwd=NFlReGhwTDR4NENQZ2N6R2ZHWEdIZz09

Lorraine Augusta Filley was born on August 3, 1936 in Mower County, Minnesota just west of Austin to Raymond "Bob" Filley and Mabel DeRaad. The middle child and oldest girl, she was from a line of historically strong, independent and phenomenal women and Lorraine was not an exception.

Shortly after Lorraine's birth, the Filley family moved from Austin to Ripley Township, settling down roots and becoming a part of the Blooming Prairie community. It was there in Blooming Prairie during Lorraine's teenage years on a fateful morning bus ride to school that she first set eyes on a dashing young man with supple hair and dazzling dimples. As luck would have it, she wasn't the only one dazzled that morning. Delmond Leo "Dick" Kruckeberg was also struck on that same bus by a young lady with flowing chestnut hair and a smile that made the world around him fade. Shortly thereafter, they had their first date in a loud, rickety and leaky pickup truck where they drove to the river. After that first date there was prom, there was the rest of high school, and from that first moment on, there was always Dick and Lorraine.

Dick and Lorraine were married on January 24, 1954 at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodge Center and later that same year, they welcomed their daughter Cindy, followed by Connie, Candy and their son Craig. After four children, Dick and Lorraine still had so much love to give that they brought their daughter of their heart Rose into their home, their family was complete.

In 1973, Dick and Lorraine became grandparents for the first time and as time went on, they were blessed with 13 more. In 1995, they became great-grandparents...twice! And today they are loved and adored by five children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Lorraine lived a life that was full of adventure, love, and hard work. She was compassionate, fun loving, and easy to laugh with a little mischief mixed in for good measure. Shortly after she was married, Lorraine and her cousin Toots snuck into Lorraine's new mother-in-law's pantry to procure date bars. Her mother-in-law came into the kitchen and the young ladies became trapped in the pantry. They were eventually discovered with their hands in the cookie jar but because those date bars were so very good, even a half a century later, neither lady had any regrets. When Lorraine did something, she did it with conviction.

In 1957, Dick and Lorraine set off to find adventure moving to Gainey Ranch in Arizona with two little girls in tow. Being so far away from family and home wasn't always easy and eventually, their path would lead them back home to Minnesota, this time with three little girls in tow.

Lorraine's resume of working hard is legendary. Dick and Lorraine found themselves in Rochester when opening a Phillips 66 gas station. During her career Lorraine worked at the Pinnacle Room, the Depot House and the Town House Bar & Restaurant in Rochester all while assisting Dick at their Recreation Sales and Rental store. In 1977 Dick and Lorraine had the opportunity to open the Prairie House Restaurant in Blooming Prairie and bringing them home from Rochester. Dick and Lorraine were happy to be back in Blooming Prairie and would often receive letters from patrons of their restaurant telling them how wonderful they made their dining experience. In 1978, Lorraine got her first taste of politics by hosting a listening session for Minnesota Legislators including Senator Tim Penny. Lorraine would again host the Senator in 1984 as she mediated between bankers and farmers. It wasn't just politicians she hosted, she opened her home and place of business to seniors, children, anyone in need, and her name lays on the sidewalk across the street of her beloved church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, leaving a lasting tribute of her love of God and doing good for others.

Lorraine's dedication to others was shown when Dick and Lorraine were awarded the Golden Butter Knife Award by the Steele County American Dairy Association in 1979 for promoting the local dairy industry in Steele County. Lorraine wanted everyone to be successful and her life's work showed that. On April 1, 1980, Lorraine became the manager of the Blooming Prairie Country Club where she hosted benefits and memorial tournaments. With each new career adventure, she had become more and more a philanthropist.

It was in the mid 1980's when Lorraine felt the calling for public service. In the 1986 local election, she shattered the glass ceiling for women in her community by becoming not just the first woman to be elected onto the Blooming Prairie City Council but she achieved this as a write-in candidate and by winning the most votes in that election than anyone else on the ticket. She ran on a vision to spur growth for the town that, even when she was away, was forever her home. Under her watch, the City founded Blooming Prairie Recreation Association, the playground equipment in town was installed, and the families of Blooming Prairie had a little bit more than they had before.

In 1984, Dick and Lorraine began a company called Spray Control Systems and that company would go to grow from a husband-and-wife duo in a hog barn to a 60-person team with international distributions in its first 30 years. Through hard work and innovation, together, Dick and Lorraine built a legacy.

Lorraine worked hard for and with the community of Blooming Prairie. She was active for decades with Chamber of Commerce and Lion's Club, often being described as someone that was no nonsense, a bit crafty and had a way about her that could always get people to work harder with just a smile and a nod. She respected and loved the people in her community and that made them respect and love her in return.

Even though she worked hard, her work was not all just nose to the grindstone. Everyone in Blooming Prairie remembers Lorraine being famous for her clowning around during the annual Fourth of July event. Literally. Every year, she would dress up as a clown with her husband Dick and they would ride through the parade to entertain the children in attendance. The children of the community were never far from her thoughts. She worked to try to brighten their futures and along with it, the future of the community that she loved.

Her lifelong desire to brighten the future of others worked, especially for her family. For the last several years, Dick and Lorraine split their time between Arizona and Minnesota having family in both states. They are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Claremont, Minnesota and associate members of Christ Lutheran Church in Coolidge, Arizona.

It is with great sadness to say that Lorraine was called home on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at her home in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. She was surrounded by the people whose lives she brightened the most, her family. She left a mark on the world that will not be forgotten. She is survived by her high school sweetheart Dick, her children Cindy and Mike Schaefer, Connie and Rick Coon, Candy and Charlie Schmidt, Craig and Robyn Kruckeberg, and Rose Scheibe. She is further survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who always affectionately called her Grandma "K", Trina and Matt Orr, Courtney and Shana Schaefer, Tracy and Jaime Valencia, Cassie and Dan Fiacco, Tiffany Schmidt, Cullen Schaefer and Melissa Waletzki, Chelsea Schmidt, Jessica Kruckeberg and Troy Huber, Nanner Kruckeberg and Jason Weeks, Tyler Kruckeberg and Trisha Wayne, Trevor and Katie Kruckeberg, Michael Scheibe, John and Kasey Scheibe, Michelle Scheibe, Chamberlain and Christopher Eisner, Dalia Valencia, Devin Schaefer, Felicia Krampitz, Emily Krampitz, Charley Schmidt, Finley Fiacco, Isabella Valencia, Logan Orr, Carter Branick, Taylor Gustavson, Cayden Branick, Cash Kruckeberg, Mabel Schaefer, Jack Weeks, Emma Weeks and Linnea Kruckeberg. Finally, she is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Arlys Filley and her sister LaVon Hernandez along with cousins, nieces and nephews, all of which held a special place in her heart.

It is the family's wish that any memorials be sent to the Leo Augusta Childrens Academy, PO Box 127 Blooming Prairie, MN 55917, in memory of their matriarch.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Claremont, Minnesota. Visitation will take place from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 7, at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home in Blooming Prairie and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Masks, social distancing, and all COVID-19 protocol will be enforced. Interment will be in St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Havana Township, Claremont. Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home in Blooming Prairie is assisting the family with arrangements.