Lorraine was born March 25th, 1939 in Outlook, SK, the firstborn child of Lumen & Myrtle Lee.  Lorraine grew up on the family farm near Hawarden, SK.  Lorraine became big sister to Margaret “Margy” (Lee) Kondratiuk, Lawrence Lee, Marcel Lee, and Merlin Lee.  Lorraine attended Cosmopolitan Rural School with about a dozen other pupils through Grade 8, and then went to a one-room high school in Hawarden, SK. 

 

Lorraine was born with congenital hip dysplasia.  As a young girl she had to travel to the Shriner's Hospital in Winnipeg.  She underwent several surgeries on her hips and legs.  She was very brave.  She was even relocated from the Shriner's Hospital when a large flood hit Winnipeg coming down the Assiniboine River behind the hospital. Much of her travels, she went by herself due to the times and coming from a farming family.  She placed her trust in strangers to help her along the way.   

 

A visit to an “Open House” at the U of S led her to take Home Economics.  After majoring in dietetics, and being very broke, Lorraine took the first job that was offered to her.  She moved to Manitoba and became the “Extension District Home Economist” for Three Ag Rep areas: Dauphin, Ethelbert, and Ste. Rose. This came with a car and expense account!

 

Her first task was judging 4-H achievements, where she learned a lot about sewing from looking at amazing workmanship. She learned to tell the difference between knitting and crocheting, and to be wary of touching woodwork that might be a bit sticky from last minute paint jobs. Talking to people in  packed halls at the end of each day proved to be fun. It was easy to give praise and show very real excitement.

 

Fairs, news column writing, radio, and later on,  TV, followed.  Learning continued in order to meet the demands for ladies craft classes!  A course in “Sewing with Knits” proved to be a boon to Lorraine.  She finally learned to sew something that fit.  5 lesson courses took her, and her sewing machine, to the furthest corners of the territory.  Home Design courses were another “biggy”, thanks to a package and training provided by the provincial specialist.  Foods, her major, brought in phone questions, but no demand for courses! 

 

On September 1st, 1962 wedding bells rang for Lorraine Lee and George Adams.  Their camping adventures began on their honeymoon when they tented on Vancouver Island and the World's Fair in Seattle, WA.  Lorraine found a 12' aluminum fishing boat & motor on sale so they could head out to a river or lake after work, looking for the biggest jack or a tasty pickerel.  George was a lucky guy.

 

Lorraine became a working Mom again, 6 weeks after the arrival of a son, Garry, in December/1966.  In 1969 she decided to retire.  They became house parents to three teens from the McKay Residential School for several years.  Their second son, David, arrived in April/1971.

 

In 1972, they built a cottage at Crescent Cove on Lake Dauphin.  A place that has been the scene of many larger family gatherings, several teen parties, and a place 3 grandchildren can now enjoy.  Growing up traveling with her boys filled most holidays, taking them from Churchill to the southern tip of  Texas, east to the Maritimes, Washington DC, and New York City, west to Hudson Hope, BC and Campbell River, BC.

 

Lorraine returned to work in 1974, as 4-H specialist for the Northwest region.  Leadership courses, organizing conferences for both teens and adults, and writing 4-H manuals became the norm.  After getting two new hips in 95/96, Lorraine decided it was time to enjoy life to the fullest and retired in 1997.

 

Lorraine’s interests included playing games such as Mexican Train, Spinners, Canasta, Rummy and  Rook.  Lorraine also took a liking to Facebook games like Words with Friends, Scrabble and Solitaire.  She enjoyed playing with friends from all over the world, and making new friends in the process.  Lorraine enjoyed making family connections on Ancestry.com, and worked on branches from several different sides of the family.  She reached out to many extended family members through Facebook.  She also enjoyed cross-stitching, reading, organ lessons, jig-saw puzzles, and learning to use a computer & tablet better. Her book idea, “Lucky to be born in’39”, is now 5 pages long.  Gardening was limited to flowers. Swimming was the closest she came to sports, aside from enjoying curling on TV.  Helping look after her grandchildren was her favorite challenge whenever they came to visit or she would travel to Flin Flon.

 

Lorraine enjoyed going up to visit Garry and his family in Flin Flon.  There was always something to do.  Lorraine enjoyed feeling busy and needed. She had a greater sense of purpose helping her family.  When Garry moved down to live in the RM of Ochre River, it sure cut down on the miles she needed to travel.  Lorraine also enjoyed visiting David in the various towns and cities where he lived.  Lorraine had thought about traveling to Germany with David on a trip to see Eva.  The ultimate goal was getting Lorraine to Norway to see her family homeland and meet the relatives she had met through Ancestry.com and Facebook which, unfortunately, didn't happen. 

 

A real source of joy came into Lorraine's life with the birth of her grandchildren: her first grandson, Brady Adams,  born in 1993, then grandson Andrew Adams, born in 1995.  Finally,  arriving in 2000, was her first granddaughter, Leah Adams. Lorraine was always happy when her grandchildren would come visit.  She enjoyed watching them grow and change, knowing they would develop into good people.  Lorraine was still hoping that David might bring home a few grandchildren, too.

 

Lorraine is survived by her Son; David Adams (Eva from Bonn, Germany) from Winnipeg, MB, Grandchildren; Brady Adams from Brandon, MB, Andrew Adams from Ochre River, MB,  & Leah Adams (Taylor) from Saskatoon, SK, Surrogate Daughter; Annie Hughes from Ochre River, MB.  Almost Step-Granddaughter; Isabella Lebek from Bonn, Germany.  Brothers & Sisters; Lawrence Lee (Linda from Palm Springs, CA) from Nipawin, SK, Marcel Lee from Victoria, BC, Merlin Lee (Gayle) from Hawarden, SK.  Brother-in-Law; Walter Kondratiuk from Valencia, CA.  Nieces & Nephews; Patty Mckenzie (Mike), Gloria Talbot, Shawn Kondratiuk (Diana), Calvin Kondratiuk, Michelle Kondratiuk-Valenzuela,  Dan Adams (Jasmina), Fabian Adams, Michael Lee (Kim), Melonie Newton (Trent), Mitchell Lee, Kristin Lee, Kendra Geisel (Bryce). Great Nieces & Nephews; Laura & Joleen Deer, Larissa & Patrick Talbot, Leanne Crane, Michael, McKenna & Kamryn Kondratiuk, Christian, Nicholas & Andrew Kondratiuk, Riley & Mason Valenzuela, Andrew, Shaun & Gordon Lee, Brayden & Calee Newton, Aiden & Brynna Geisel.  Several Great-Great Nieces & Nephews.

 

Lorraine was predeceased by her husband George Adams, her son Garry Adams, her sister Margaret “Margy” Kondratiuk, her parents Lumen & Myrtle Lee, her mother-in-law Mary Adams and father-in-law Frank Adams, her brother-in-Law Frank Adams, her sisters-in-law Margaret Talbot & Patricia Adams, her brother-in-law Richard Crawford, numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, & friends.

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Cremation has taken place, there will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, October 10, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. in the Aspen Room at the Dauphin Recreation Centre.

Donations in memory of Lorraine Adams can be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation or Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.