Mar. 17,1924 – Jan. 25, 2013

Lorraine Phifer passed from this life after a long, brave battle of various illnesses while a resident at Bend Villa Retirement.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church in Sisters. Graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 1, at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City.

Lorraine was a St. Patricks Day baby born on March 17, 1924, in Arapahoe, Nebraska, to Leona Ricketts and Otis (Brick) Ricketts.

She graduated from McCook Jr. College in McCook, Nebraska, and Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, with a degree in Elementary Education.

Her first job, after a single summer session of college, was in a one-room grades 1-8 school in Turkey Creek Canyon, Colorado. After college graduation, she taught elementary grades in Culbertson, Nebraska, Wauneta, Nebraska, Oregon City and Lake Oswego, Oregon.

After her husbands retirement in 1986, she aided him as a resident operator of funeral homes at Wilhelm Funeral Home in Portland, and Prineville Funeral Home in Prineville.

She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prineville and St. Edward Catholic Church in Sisters.

She is survived by her brother, Ron (Mary Ann); and their children, Nicole, Bart, and Shawn and their families. Other survivors are a host of her husbands brothers, a sister, and their spouses and families living in Colorado and Nebraskathey have been marvelous supporters with phone calls, letters, and even distant visits, and a host of friends in the Portland and Central Oregon area.

She was preceded in death by a son, Danny (age four); and her husband, of 62 years.

Her family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers in Resident Care at Bend Villa for their excellent care, compassion, and kindnesses to her family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward Church Building Fund or Hospice/Partners in Care of Bend.

Autumn Funerals in Bend is in charge of arrangements.