Lorraine Stokka

Lorraine Stokka, 85, a resident of Pelican Rapids, died Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at the Pelican Valley Nursing Home in Pelican Rapids.  Lorraine Nefstead Stokka was born July 31, 1924, in Canby, Minnesota. The tenth and youngest child of Andrew and Marie (Helland) Nefstead, she grew up on a farm in Lincoln County and began her education at a rural school there. She graduated from Hendricks High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and a Master of Science in Education degree from Moorhead State University. On September 23, 1945, Lorraine was married to Maynard E. Stokka at Marble Lutheran Church, the site also of her baptism and confirmation. Since Maynard was a seminary student and then a Lutheran pastor, they lived and worked in a number of places: Missoula and Shepherd, Montana; Ledyard and Swea City, Iowa; Austin, Remer, Rollag, and Rothsay, all in Minnesota; and Granton, Wisconsin. Lorraine taught high school English in Swea City, Iowa, Remer and Rothsay, Minnesota; and Granton, Wisconsin. In 1986 she and Maynard retired and moved to a home on Little Pleasant Lake near Underwood. In 1999 they moved to Fergus Falls, and in September of 2009 to Pelican Rapids. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers: Edwin, Harold, Archie, Raymond, and Donald; three sisters: Hazel Carr, Irene Salven Mumm, and Bernice Waugh; and a son-in-law, Dwayne Bronk. Survivors include her husband, Maynard, of Pelican Rapids; sons: Jerome (Maria) Stokka of Pelican Rapids, Joel (Vickie) Stokka of Winter Haven, FL, and Jonathan (Charissa) Stokka of Byron, MN; daughters: Patrice (Steve) Aksamit of Prior Lake, MN, Kathryn Stokka-Bronk of Big Lake, MN, and Amy Stokka (Greg Sauer) of Woodland Park, CO; 18 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; a sister, Selma (Harvey) Morseth of Hendricks, MN; and many special nieces and nephews. Visitation:  One hour prior to the service at the church Memorial Service:   2 p.m. Friday, December 11, 2009, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Pastor Paul Nelson Interment: Marble Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Canby, Minnesota Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Memorials are preferred to Habitat for Humanity or your local food shelf. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com