Obituary of Lorraine Clausen

Clausen, Lorraine (Evans) age 95 years, of Minneapolis, died peacefully on February 24. Beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Survived by son Bill Clausen (Michelle Casey) and daughters Susan Casey (Don), Barb Outcalt (Michael), and Judy Lundstrom (Bruce), 14 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and 16 nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband Oliver Clausen, son Lee (Diane) Clausen, granddaughters Emily and Elizabeth Casey Clausen, and brothers Ronald, Orland, and Blaine Evans. Lorraine was born to William A. Evans and Emma Luedke Evans in North Mankato, Minnesota on July 15, 1922. She lived in North Man-kato, New Hope, Scottsdale, and Edina. She was a pioneer in work and business at a time when opportunities for women were limited. She was one of the first women to work as a Greyhound Lines ticket agent and union steward; owned a women's clothing store in Mankato; volunteered on political campaigns and as an election judge; and managed resort gift shops during her years in Arizona. She was a strong and determined person who lived independently until last year, when she moved to assisted living. Lorraine especially loved visiting with grandchildren Alex Clausen, Peter Clausen, Paige Collier, Brooke Clausen, Jenny Winter, Kati Loder, and David Outcalt and great-grand-children Alex Leen, Grace and Zoe Loder, and Sloane Clausen, and nieces Cindy Mackintosh and Julee Parker. She made friends everywhere she went, and treasured her life-long friendship with Helen Thorstad. We will miss her great love for her family, her kindness and caring for others, her expressions of joy in life, and her sense of humor. She showed us the meaning of love. The family would like to give special thanks to caregivers at Jones-Harrison Residence in Minneapolis and N.C. Little Hospice in Edina. A celebration of Lorraine's life will be held at Jones-Harrison, 3700 Cedar Lake Ave., Minneapolis, on Sunday, April 15th at 1:30 PM. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.