Lorraine H. Erickson, 90, died April 20 at Great Bend Regional Hospital.  She was born Feb. 12, 1922, in Rush County, the daughter of Herman and Anna Marie (Wagner) Hemken.  Lorraine was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church at Albert.  
She married Forrest W. Erickson on Oct. 18, 1969, in Thornton, Colo.  He died on June 22, 2000.  After helping raise her younger brothers following the death of her mother, Lorraine attended Wartburg College and then served as a parish worker for the American Lutheran Church in several mid-western states.  She returned home in the late 1960s and worked as a Pawnee County appraiser until her retirement, after which she and Forrest moved from the farm to Great Bend in 1988. Lorraine was a devoted aunt and grandmother, and a talented organist and seamstress.  She was a member of the Great Bend United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two stepsons, Forrest E. Erickson and wife Karen, Shawnee,  and Roger Erickson, Bay St. Louis, Miss.;  two grandchildren, Amanda Harbord and husband Bruce, and Elizabeth Erickson; one great grandchild, Bridget Harbord; brother Rev. Lowell Hemken and wife Carol of Ft. Collins, Colo., and four nieces and their families.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Melvin Hemken, and a nephew Lee Hemken.                    
Visitation will be Tuesday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6–8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Sheldon officiating.  Burial will be in Larned Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune,  April 22, 2012