Lorraine Mildred Hoegh

Lorraine Mildred Hoegh, the daughter of Eric C. and Lizzie M. (Andersen) Christensen, was born December 31, 1922, at her parents’ home near Brayton, Iowa and passed into heaven and God’s loving care on March 31, 2015 at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 92 years and 3 months.
Lorraine was baptized in the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, Iowa and confirmed at the Oak Hill Lutheran Church west of Brayton, Iowa. She attended Oakfield Center School and graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1941. She studied at A.I.B. in Des Moines, Iowa for a short time then worked for Godwin Manufacturing Company in Exira, Iowa.
In 1942, Lorraine moved to California and was employed as a bookkeeper for GMAC. On March 8, 1943, she was united in marriage to Edward Rody Ryan of Culver City, California. A daughter Roberta Jean was born to this union. They lived at the Army Base in Yuma, Arizona during Edward’s training as a fighter pilot. When Edward was transferred to England, Lorraine lived in Culver City with his family. Edward was killed in action on April 5, 1944. Lorraine remained in Culver City for some time then returned to live with her family on their farm west of Exira. She attended a summer school session in Carroll, Iowa and then taught at the Oakfield Center School.
On March 8, 1947, she married Gordon Peter Lykke. Two children Gwendolyn and Steven were born to this union. Lorraine taught school for one semester in Audubon Township until they moved to a rented farm in Greeley Township. Later they purchased a farm in Greeley Township in 1961. Lorraine took a position with the Audubon Post Office in 1968 where she worked until she retired in 1985. During this time they purchased and lived in a house in Audubon, Iowa. Gordon died October 10, 1989.
On February 13, 1993 she married Harold Benjamin Hoegh. They moved into Exira in 1995. They enjoyed traveling and enjoyed church, community and family activities. Harold died April 14, 2008, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa.
Lorraine was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church. She was very active and especially enjoyed her membership in the Greeley Township ladies club, OAO, (Our Afternoon Off). She was a member of TOPS, the Exira Red Hat Firecrackers, church groups, card clubs, and other activities. She loved going to dances, shopping, traveling, and best of all family gatherings.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husbands; her son Steven Lykke; her parents; her brother Emmert Christensen and two nephews Marty Christensen and Curt Larsen.
Survivors include her daughters; Roberta Roddy of Audubon, Iowa and Gwendolyn and husband Kendrick Craig of Quincy, Illinois; her daughter-in-law Rita Lykke-Elium and husband Mike Elium of Oakboro, North Carolina; her grandchildren and spouses Patrick Lykke, Luke and Carolyn Craig, Rachel and Josh Williams, Peter and Erin Craig, Hans and Melany Lykke, and Joanna Lykke; her step-children Kathy Hoegh, Bruce and Sue Hoegh, and Winston and Donna Hoegh; her step-grandchildren Justin Hoegh, Joel Hoegh, Maren and Brian Doherty, Laura and Kevin TePoel, Cynthia and Alec Paulsen, and Elizabeth Hoegh; 19 great grandchildren; her sisters Erma Larsen of Exira, Iowa and Edna Eagen of Buffalo, Minnesota; her sister-in-law Corrine Christensen of Gove, Kansas; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The casket bearers will be Luke Craig, Peter Craig, Patrick Lykke, Josh Williams, Justin Hoegh, and Bruce Hoegh.