Lorraine H. Meester

Lorraine H. (Mrs. Joe J.) Meester, age 87 of rural Willow Lake died in a DeSmet care center late Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 6. 2008 at 2PM in the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake with the Reverend Richard Poppen officiating. The organist will be Jody Symens with Loris Kannegieter and Gaylen Grensberg singing. Casketbearers will be Loren, Wesley and Wayne Nolte, John Raap, Larry Grensberg and Steven Birkholtz. Burial will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 6-8 PM at the Church in Willow Lake and after noon also at the Church on Monday. She was born on June 16, 1921 at Pierpont, SD, the daughter of Edward and Olive (Barrows) Raap. Her first 11 years of schooling was in Pierpont and then the family moved to Bristol where she graduated from high school in 1938. Following her high school education, she enrolled at Northern Normal in Aberdeen for one year and obtained her teaching certificate. She then began a career in education that lasted for 43 continuous years, first teaching in a country school near Pierpont. She also taught 3rd and 4th grades at Bristol and then returned to teaching country school near Pierpont before returning to Bristol for another 8 years. Following her teaching in Bristol she became employed with the Watertown School District where she spent 16 years in the Special Education Department. During her career she was involved in various teachers' organizations and was named South Dakota Teacher of the Year. On June 7, 1975 she was united in marriage to Joe J. Meester, the couple lived on a farm in Collins Township, west of Willow Lake. While living on the farm, Lorraine was teaching in Watertown and would drive back and forth and also stay in Watertown during the week at times. Following her retirement, she and Joe have continued living on the farm until she suffered a massive stroke following heart surgery 7 years ago. Since that time she has lived at the Jenkins Living Center in Watertown and at the Good Samaritan Care Center in DeSmet since 2004. She was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake and its women's groups, always willing to lead a bible study or furnish food. Her love of being an educator was a very important part of her life, whether it was in being a 4-H Leader or being in the classroom. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary at Willow Lake and the Eagles Lodge at Watertown. Some of her hobbies included bowling, making crafts, gardening and canning. She will long be remembered for her artistic ability in painting pictures as well. Survivors include her husband Joe J. of Willow Lake, step-children, Marjorie (Dale) Rothenberger of Watertown, Richard (Janet) Austin of Frankfort, SD, LaVonne (Arnold) Neuharth of Mechanicsville, VA and Sandy (Daniel) Eschenbaum of Bozeman, Montana; a brother, Robert (Mary) Raap of Bristol and a sister, Donna Jean (Herbert) Nolte of Webster, 5 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Preceding her in death were her parents, a son in infancy, a step-daughter, LaDonna Mae Meester and a brother, Henry Raap. Arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home of Clark where you can sign the guest registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com