Lorraine May Gundermann, age 95, of Glasgow, Montana formally of Larslan, Montana passed away on April 25, 2023 in Billings, Montana. Lorraine was born July 11, 1927, on the farm north of Nashua to John and Myrtle French.
Lorraine and her siblings grew up during the depression and attended country school at the French School until boarding in Nashua for high school. Lorraine met Hubert Gundermann during high school, and they were wed October 19, 1944. To their union came their children: Bernadette, Dennis, Mike, Paula, Sam, Dan and Jody.
Lorraine enjoyed and excelled at making cakes and made several wedding cakes throughout the years. Baking brought her joy, and she was always making and sharing cookies. She was a fantastic cook, there will be lots of people missing her Lefse. Lorraine could waltz, two step and polka the night away, as her kids say she was a dancing fool and always took the lead. She was a prim and proper woman, always looking her best even on the farm. Lorraine was a master gardener and loved every flower especially if they were purple and pink. Lorraine took to running equipment when hired men were scarce. She could do it all.
Hubert passed away in August of 1978 and in 1987 Lorraine built her log home in Glasgow and moved to town. Her log home was her pride and joy and she lived there until moving to Nemont Manor in 2016 and then to Prairie Ridge in 2019. Lorraine loved visiting with friends and family. She enjoyed her grandkids and great-grandkids immensely. She especially loved her nieces who came to have cookies and tea.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents John and Myrtle (Nelson) French, her husband Hubert Gundermann, her son Dennis Gundermann and her siblings: Beuleah Allie, Rose French, Albert French, Byron French, Dan French, LaVerne McLees, Fay Kronebusch and Jean Dunson. As well as her grandson Neal Gundermann.
Lorraine is survived by her children: Bernadette Wilson, Mike Gundermann, Paula Gundermann, Sam Gundermann, Dan Gundermann and Jody Gundermann. Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Lorraine had many, many special friends throughout the years, too many to mention you all.
Family will receive friends will Sunday, April 30, 2023 from 5 – 7:00 p.m. at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, Montana with the funeral taking place Monday, May 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Bell Mortuary. A reception will follow services at the Elks Lodge.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday April 30, 2023
Bell Mortuary
701 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Monday May 1, 2023
Bell Mortuary
701 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Reception
3:00 p.m.
Monday May 1, 2023
Elks Lodge1922
309 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday April 30, 2023
Bell Mortuary
701 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Monday May 1, 2023
Bell Mortuary
701 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Reception
3:00 p.m.
Monday May 1, 2023
Elks Lodge1922
309 Second Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
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Mara Gundermann Murphy says
My sweet, beautiful Norwegian Grama left us tonight at the age of 95 years young. Still as sharp as a tack until the very end. 💕
She was prim & proper when need be but had a hilarious sense of humor & always had lots of funny one liners in her conversations with her family & close friends. Her little signature giggle was the best! (Pretty sure I inherited this same trait from her! 😆) She was a realist & didn’t sugar coat the truth but was always polite & courteous. She didn’t drink, smoke or swear…just your typical classy woman of her generation. She always looked like a $100 bill…with her blue eyes, her hair always fixed & her makeup on each morning…she dressed up daily, even during her farm years. Blue & baby pink were her favorite colors. She loved to cook & bake for her loved ones & eat her own sweet treats too…and was the original white wedding cake lady who taught Wanda everything she knows about cake decorating. 😄 She enjoyed her flowers & her birds that visited her feeders. She had a log cabin built in town & filled it full of cutesy knickknacks…the smaller it was, the cuter it was to her! She loved her Wheel of Fortune & Miss Vanna White and wasn’t shy about enjoying her television shows…you did not interrupt her during WHEEL! In her younger years, after her seven kids were grown & she actually had some time to herself, she loved to get dolled up & go dancing to the local old time country bands. My Dad’s Mother…she was a farmer’s daughter growing up during the time of the Great Depression in South Valley County, and as a young lady, she married a German farmer & settled in North Valley County…she lived her entire life in NE MT. I was lucky enough to live on the same family farm as she did for the first 10 years of my life until Grama eventually moved into town. I loved spending time with her during our joint farm years. I remember her gardening, canning, baking, cooking, hosting Christmas dinners with a long row of homemade pies. I LOVED her fancy car…(if my memory is correct) it was an 80’s something two door, extra long Lincoln Continental Mark V’ish, light gold with the flip up rectangular headlights & the oval side windows in the back seats….with a bobbing cow head on the dashboard & a mini cowboy hat hanging from the rear view mirror. The car was emaculate inside & out and on occasion, I would get to go for a ride. Usually it was north to Glentana for the post office or it was south down the gravel road a few miles to her sister Fay’s farm to pick raspberries & visit with the ladies. I don’t remember Grama working in the field (obviously she was WAY too busy with her 7 kids & all of the cooking meals & keeping the home running smoothly, etc…) but I do remember that she was ALWAYS the one with the axe in hand on chicken butchering day…it didnt matter how many of her guys were there to help. She wrote short letters in her greeting cards & filled them full of stickers with a coordinating postage stamp…she did not miss a holiday. I commented to her one time years ago that I really loved her lemon bars and from that day forward, ANY time I told her that I was coming to Glasgow to visit her, she always made me lemon bars. 🥰
She was the sweetest, classiest grandmother & I am forever greatful that I had the chance to spend time with and get to know her over the past 46 years. A decade ago, when I was on my “ghost kick” I asked Grama to show me a specific sign from the other side whenever she were to pass on…
I’ll be waiting for my sign, Grama.
Much love & Godspeed to you. 💙
Love always from your Granddaughter
Deb & Daryl Waarvik says
Always enjoyed visiting with Lorraine. She made many a wedding cake in her day and my Mom & Dad’s was one of those. She was still baking when she was in Prairie Ridge and was a neighbor to Daryl’s Mom. I am sure her and Aunt Gladys (Doy) are busy catching up right now. She led a nice full life & we will miss seeing her smiling face.
Linda Sexton (Greenwood) says
I’m thinking of all you kids. It is hard to go on without your parents and Grandma. She loved kids and I was a neighborhood kid as we all grew up. Very nice Lady. I enjoyed visiting with her when I would go home for occasions for my Mom.