Lorraine Holmen, wife of the late Covenant pastor Gordon Holmen, died October 20, 2023, in Plantation, Florida. She was 102.
Hortense Lorraine Nelson was born in 1921 to parents Axel and Hanna (Larson) Nelson in LaPorte, Indiana. When Lorraine was a child, her family moved twice: first to the South Side of Chicago, then three years later to Center City, Minnesota, where she spent most of her upbringing. After graduating high school at 16 in the fall of 1938, Lorraine aspired to be a nurse, but was too young for the nursing training program. Instead she enrolled at the University of Minnesota, where her brother was attending medical school.
Later, after her family moved back to Chicago, she attended North Park College, where she met Raymond Olson. In the fall of 1940, Lorraine entered the nursing training school at Augustana
Hospital, graduating three years later in 1943 and working under her favorite physician and teacher, Dr. Crean. In 1945, she and Raymond were married, living in the Austin neighborhood of west Chicago on the second floor of a two-flat with Ray’s parents on the first floor. Lorraine and Raymond were active members of Austin Covenant Church. They had two children, sons James and John in 1950 and 1953, respectively. She made many treasured memories spending summers with her boys in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Years later, Lorraine and Ray moved to south Florida, settling down in Fort Lauderdale so Ray could build his dental practice there. There, they also had a daughter, Anita, in 1961. Unfortunately, their marriage floundered soon afterward, and Ray and Lorraine divorced in 1964.
In 1966, she married Gordon Holmen, a widowed Covenant pastor. Many years earlier, they had been in the same Swedish class at North Park, and the families were reacquainted in Florida. Lorraine became stepmother to Helen, Karen, and Bill, all of them older than her own children. Lorraine and Gordon moved to the Bradenton-Sarasota area, where Gordon served the Tri-Par and Trailer-Estates Covenant Churches.
Once Anita was in school, Lorraine restarted her nursing career, which gave her deep satisfaction. She and Gordon founded Sarasota Tours so they could plan and lead groups of retirees on adventures to such places as Hawaii, Mexico, Scandinavia, and the Western U.S. National Parks. Lorraine took care of most of the financial details of these trips. They also brought groups to Plantation, Florida, to attend the Benevolence dinners at what was then known as Covenant Village, and to tour the facilities.
As they neared retirement, Lorraine and Gordon enjoyed traveling, including the summers they spent in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to visit her son James. In 1991, when Lorraine was 70 years old and Gordon was 72, they moved into Covenant Village. Lorraine soon joined a group of quilters and made many dear friends. The Village became home to them and was the longest Lorraine lived in one place her entire life. Gordon passed away in 2003, but Lorraine remained active and was able to live independently well into her 90s. She also enjoyed a special friendship with Bob Hall until his death.
In addition to her loving husband, Gordon Holmen, Lorraine was preceded in death by her nephew, Paul Nelson. She is survived by her children, Bill (Gail) of Angels Camp, California; James Olson (Kitty) of Hendersonville, North Carolina; John Olson of Orlando, Florida; Anita Olson Gustafson (Charlie) of Clinton, South Carolina; 12 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service was held in the Chapel of Covenant Living of Florida on November 1, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Lorraine Holmen to the Covenant Living of Florida Benevolent Care Fund.
Peace to her memory.
