Velma Lorraine Bjorke, 84, Minot, died Saturday, September 22, 2012 at Desert Winds Assisted Living Center of Peoria, Arizona.

Lorraine was born March 23, 1928 on the family farm near Carbury, North Dakota, the daughter of Bernhard and Alma (Seter) Wall. She was raised and educated at Carbury and graduated from Bottineau High School in 1946. She attended the ND State School of Forestry at Bottineau from 1946-1948 and was employed at the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) Office there for several years as the secretary & office manager.

Lorraine moved to Devils Lake, where she was employed at Shark's Men's Store as the office manager for three years and later at Greenleaf Insurance Agency for two years. She was united in marriage to Owen Bjorke on June 6, 1957 at Carbury. They made their home at Minot, where she was employed at Minot State University as a bookkeeper. Along with raising their two children, she also sold Avon products for several years. She and Owen spent many winters in the Phoenix area. Owen died July 30, 2005. Lorraine had moved to Peoria in August of 2008 to be nearer her children and grandchildren.

Lorraine was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, where she actively served on the Church Council and as past president of the Women's CLCW group. She had accumulated thousands of hours of volunteer work with Trinity Hospital and served as past president of the Trinity Auxiliary. She had been a longtime Norsk Hostfest volunteer and former Cub Scout leader and PTA member.

Her loving family includes, children, Patricia (Michael) Miller, Phoenix, AZ and James (Pam) Bjorke, Minot; grandchildren, Emily & Olivia Miller and Chad Bjorke; brothers, John (Joan) Wall, Fargo, ND, Kenneth Wall, Minneapolis, MN; sisters, Ione Skarphol, Bottineau and Doris Birkner, Kent, OH; sisters-in-law, June Wall, Torrence, CA, Frances Wall, Bottineau, along with a number of nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Harold, Russell and Howard Wall.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.
Visitation: Tuesday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to the Christ Lutheran Church Flood fund.