Judith Lorraine Nordaas

Judith Lorraine Nordaas, age 97, of Blue Earth, passed away June 2. Lorraine was born September 10, 1920 in Lakefield, Minnesota.  She was the second of four children born to Rev. Severin and Irene Gjerde.  She graduated from Elmore High School.  Following high school she spent a year working as a maid in Pasadena, California.  She spent the spring term at Lutheran Brethren Bible School in 1941.  She worked for many years as a nurses aid at Fairmont and Blue Earth hospitals.  While working at Blue Earth Hospital she met and married Magnus Nordaas.  They moved to a rented farm near Frost.  In 1952, they bought a farm near Bricelyn where they lived until retirement.  Lorraine enjoyed ladies aid and teaching Sunday School. She was a sacrificial mother and a loving homemaker. She loved helping people, sending cards giving krumkake and making scrapbooks and traveling to visit her children in Ecuador, Papua New Guinea and Japan.  After her children were raised she enjoyed working at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center.  In 2002, she became a resident there where she became one of their favorite residents and received wonderful and loving care.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Magnus; her brothers, Selmer and Maynard Gjerde, and her sister Ellen Mae Fodness. She is survived by her 3 children, Arnold, Judi, and Selmer Nordaas; 5 grandchildren, Laura Cobb, Amy Divinagracia, Seth Nordaas, Jared Nordaas, Aaron Nordaas and 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Blessed be the memory of Lorraine Nordaas.  She left a wonderful spiritual legacy for her family and friends.