D. Lorraine Pendleton Tescher

D. Lorraine Pendleton Tescher, 88, went to the Lord on October 6, 2014. A kind and gentle soul, who spent most of her life taking care of others, putting them ahead of herself. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Friday, October 10, 2014 at the Silha Funeral Home in Beach, North Dakota. A Vigil Service will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, October 10, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Lorraine was born in Mills, WY., Feb. 19, 1926 to Samuel “Dick” and Mary “Irene” (Rathbun) Pendleton. She was raised on the prairie in Westerheim Community north of Sentinel Butte, ND. With her siblings Gladys and Wayne, she was raised in a tarpaper shack, rode horse to a one-room school, carried buckets of water, shocked grain, and milked cows. She wrote that she had a “nurtured and happy” childhood. Lorraine was educated at Olson and Westerheim Country Schools, then graduated from Sentinel Butte High School in 1944. That summer, she went to college in Dickinson and by fall, because it was wartime, she taught kids some just four years younger than herself. About this time a dashing young cowboy came courting. In June 1946, she married Tom Tescher at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Sentinel Butte. She said their wedding was one of the first after the war. Soldiers, just home, proudly wore their uniforms to the wedding and it was a huge community celebration.. Between the ages of 21 and 42 Lorraine had 10 babies. She took each new baby into her arms lovingly and when asked how anyone could possibly have 10 kids, she’d say, “You don’t have 10 all at one time, it was always just one more.” She wrote that in those 21 years she washed, hung and folded 84,000 diapers and fed over 4,000 bottles. While Tom was gone rodeoing, Lorraine ran the ranch, raised kids and kept her house as clean as any in the country. Everyone marveled at the good meals she made from basic ingredients. Her home and her dinner table were a neighborhood meeting place. Although Lorraine’s life wasn’t easy, she always found joy in things around her. She loved her babies and grandbabies – and had a special place in her heart for baby animals especially birds and kitties. She loved the outdoors and saw God’s beauty everywhere. Lorraine was a writer. She wrote many stories about her people and her life. She wrote a column in the weekly community newspaper. She had common sense and country wisdom. Her children can still hear her say “Begun is half done,” “Open that washrag all the way,” or “Wash your face and you’ll feel better.” She knew how to make a poultice, get a hen to set, and track a momma cat to find a batch of new kittens. When company was coming, she said, “Quick everyone pick up ten things.” Lorraine strived to teach her children by example. She said moral actions were far more important than wealth, education or worldly successes. She defended the absent, easily recognized those in need and counseled the brokenhearted. She placed little trinkets on her kitchen window sil that reminded her of someone in need of prayers. As she washed dishes - she’d pray. She’d tell her children to pray to St. Anthony for lost items and to “say a little prayer” when they passed an ambulance with flashing lights. She had a special relationship with the Blessed Mother. She waited until Christmas Eve to put baby Jesus in the creche. Lorraine was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Medora, charter member of the Friendly Neighbors Homemaker’s Club in Sentinel Butte a tour guide at the Chateau DeMores, and in her later years, she enjoyed being on a pool league. Her last few years were spent at the Souris Valley Care Center in Velva, ND, where she touched the staff with her kind, sweet ways. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and her husband of 63 years.. Lorraine is survived by her ten children, Bill (Jocelyn) Tescher of Mandan, Carol (Val) Obrigewitch of Sentinel Butte; Ted (Kay) Tescher of Medora; Don (Ebba) Tescher of Sheridan, WY,; Becky (Pete) Robison of Huntley, MT; Doug (Julie) Tescher of Medora; Beth (Kevin) Clyde of Medora; Perry Tescher (Melanie Foster) of Medora; Teresa(Mark) Voll of Sidney, MT; and Emily Tescher (Roger Schmaltz of Velva, ND. Grandchildren, Loren Obrigewitch, Shy Obrigewitch, Kim Mau, Tess Tescher, Dusty Tescher, Kyle Tescher, Mona Tescher, Matt Robison, Jenny Fox, Travis Tescher, Jake Tescher, Abby Clyde, Katie Clyde, Keri Clyde, Sam Clyde, Valerie Tescher, Anna Tescher, Tom Voll, Mary Voll, Ellie Lou Johnston, Pendleton(Penn) Johnston, and Rye Johnston as well as several great-grandchildren. In Lorraine’s memory, please send memorials to a child with a medical need. Rest in Peace Lorraine and Bless Your Heart. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Beach is entrusted with arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

D. Lorraine Pendleton Tescher

February 19, 1926 - October 6, 2014

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D. Lorraine Pendleton Tescher

February 19, 1926 - October 6, 2014

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

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