Funeral Services for Lorraine Ernst, age 95 of O'Neill, NE will be 10:30 am Saturday, June 10, 2023 at the Faith Community Church in O'Neill with Rev. Paul Harder officiating. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, June 9, 2023 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Lorraine passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Arbor Care Center in O'Neill. Memorials may be given to Faith Community Church or the Africa Inland Mission. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Lorraine Gail Ernst was born to Homer and Gail (Parker) Ernst on January 16, 1928 at O'Neill, NE. She grew up on the family farm and attended District #90 through eighth grade and graduated from OHS in 1945. She later attended Grace Bible Institute (later Grace University) and Wheaton College in Illinois, graduating in 1954. She taught in Holt County rural schools and Niobrara Public Schools.

After joining the Africa Inland Mission, Lorraine spent a year in Belgium studying French, the official language of the Belgian Congo. She was assigned to teach at Rethy Academy, the school for missionaries' children in the Belgian Congo. Beginning in 1960, when Congo gained their independence from Belgium, missionaries were evacuated from the country several times due to political unrest. This was necessary again in late 1997. The country is now called the Democratic Republic of Congo or D.R. Congo.

So, in 1997 Lorraine retired in the O'Neill area where she was involved in Faith Community Church and After Five activities, a prayer chain, Bible studies, doing visitation, keeping in touch with friends, former students, and fellow workers around the world. This left time for family fun times, raising flowers, reading, and doing crossword puzzles.

Lorraine is survived by two sisters, Muriel Tieszen of Bend, OR, and Iona (Ivan) Wayman of O'Neill, NE; one brother, Richard 'Dick' Ernst of Indianapolis, IN; brother-in-law, Don Tuch; and many nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Gail Ernst; sister, June Tuch; brother-in-law, Clarence Tieszen; sister-in-law, Marcia Ernst; and one niece, Brenda Tieszen.