Lorraine Brander Peterson, age 91, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, June 26, 2014, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community at Storm Lake.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place Tuesday, July 1, 2014 from 4-6:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Lorraine Brander, the daughter of Edward W. and Rose (Minette) Brander, was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on January 6, 1923. She was baptized on January 7, 1923, in Sioux Falls. In 1927, she moved with her family to Storm Lake where her father became the head buttermaker at the Diamond Creamery. Lorraine was confirmed in 1933 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake. She received her education at St. Mary’s School, graduating in 1940. Lorraine graduated from Buena Vista College in 1946 with her Bachelor of Arts degree. That fall she taught English, history and dramatics in Churdan, Iowa.

On June 3, 1947, Lorraine was united in marriage to Glenn Dale Peterson at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and to this union were born two children: Glenn Dale II and Susan Elizabeth. In the fall of 1959, Lorraine taught 6th grade half time at St. Mary’s School. Lorraine became the Buena Vista teacher of the trainable mentally challenged in the fall of 1962. For 15 years, she taught this class with love and devotion. Lorraine then became the Intermediate Mental Disabilities Educable Special Education Teacher. For 24 years, she taught students with special needs, both during and after school as needed.

Lorraine maintained a lifelong love of Girl Scouting, receiving her 75th year pin in 2012. As an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish, she was a co-leader of the “Sursam Corda” Prayer Group, a member of the Alumni Board, a lector, and an extraordinary minister. Lorraine served on the Buena Vista College Alumni Board and was awarded the “Distinguished Jack Fisher Alumni Award” in 1986. She was also very active in the Buena Vista Historical Society and served on their board for more than 25 years. During this time, she was on a team that developed 5 videos portraying the history of Buena Vista County. She served as Vice-President of the museum board for one year.

Lorraine’s interest in Storm Lake’s historic Harker House led her to become a guide and board member for many years and she took a very special and active interest in the Storm Lake community throughout her lifetime. As a result of her interest in local history, she developed a slide presentation which showed the growth of Storm Lake. Dubbed “Old Storm Lake”, this presentation was given to schools, organizations, private groups, reunions and individuals.

Writing children’s stories and illustrating some of them was also one of Lorraine’s pastimes. She read these stories in elementary school in several cities within the United States in addition to Storm Lake. Along the same line, Lorraine developed programs on American artists and presented these programs at local schools under the auspices of the “Artist in Schools” program at Witter Gallery.

Lorraine was very proud of her involvement in the restoration of the two large stone pillars at the entrance to Chautauqua Park. She initiated the project from bringing the pillars up from their graves on the lakeshore to complete restoration. Her lifelong friend, Margaret Krasky Nordyke, offered to pay any expenses involved thus opening the way to the restoration. Lorraine was eternally grateful for her love and generosity. The pillars are standing beside their counterparts at the Chautauqua Park entrance. They are a tribute to their creator, Mr. Richter, but also to the many who gave their talents to make Storm Lake great. Lorraine was proud to have been a part of this group.

Lorraine’s life and legacy is honored and celebrated by her children which include: Glenn D. Peterson II and his wife, Theresa, of Mesa, Arizona and Susan Harrington and her husband, Dr. Thomas Harrington, of Ames, Iowa; grandchildren: Derick Peterson, Erica Peterson Richards, Caitlin Harrington, Megan Harrington, and Shawn Harrington; 4 great grandchildren: Sierra, Tyler, Kaelah and Amelia; two sisters: Mary Hartman of LeMars, Iowa and Rose Mills of Lakeside, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Esther Brander and Mary Jo Durbin; many nieces, nephews, other extended family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glenn in 1984; grandson, Patrick James Harrington; 4 brothers: Allen, Tony, Edward Jr. and Lloyd “Tubby” and 2 sisters: Dorothy Minette and Agnes Scott.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Lorraine’s memory to the Buena Vista County Historical Society or St .Mary’s Music and Arts Department.