Loretta Lucille Upton

1938 - 2022

Loretta Lucille Upton, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother, went to be with our Lord on Friday, February 25, 2022. Loretta was born on December 31, 1938, at John Burns Memorial Hospital in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to David and Lucille Kaiser.

From childhood on, Loretta (Lori) was surrounded by a large and loving family. Lori and her siblings graduated from country schools in the Orman-Arpan School District and then moved into Belle Fourche to work their way through high school. Loretta worked at John Burns Memorial Hospital as a nurse's aide after school and on weekends throughout her four years of high school. She earned a four-year scholarship from John Burns Memorial Hospital and upon her graduation from Belle Fourche High School in 1956, she entered nurses training at St. John's McNamara Hospital in Rapid City, SD, graduating with an RN degree in 1959. On August 8, 1959 she married her sweetheart, Bob, at St Paul's Catholic Church in Belle Fourche and immediately after their wedding moved to California where Loretta started her nursing career. Growing up on the farm with her nine siblings she had a lot of adventures to share with her children and grandchildren. The family lived in a one story, three bedroom house and with ten children. The four boys shared a bedroom and the six girls shared a bedroom, sleeping three to a bed in two double beds. The farm house did not see indoor plumbing until the mid-50s. Lori was active in the Meadowlark 4-H Club for 10 years and entered many projects in the annual Butte County Fair. She took top honors in the Cherry Pie baking contest for two years in a row at the fair. Her love of baking was a lifelong passion as evidenced by the countless loaves of banana bread and dozens of cookies enjoyed by all.

Lori led a life of service with over 47 years as a nurse at a pediatrician's office and several hospitals in the San Fernando Valley and Orange County in California. After Lori and her husband moved to Texas, she became a nursing supervisor at Conroe area hospitals. Even though Lori retired from nursing professionally in 2005, no one was surprised that she went on to take care of many of her friends when they needed her and would fly to the bedside of anyone in her family that was ill and would nurse them lovingly until the end. Lori embodied the word "love." She never lost sight of her life's top priorities, which were God, family, and friends.

Loretta loved her church family and was an enthusiastic member of Catholic Daughters of America, Court #1884, Ladies Workshop at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe, Texas, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Small Church Community, and enjoyed Bible studies and helping out at events at her parish church, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plantersville. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her, who cherished her grace, kindness, determination, joy for life, and genuine selfless love for others.

Loretta is survived by her loving family; daughters, Darla Arter (Gary) and Lynn Peverill (William); son, Steven Upton (Katie); grandchildren, Jessalyn (Richard) Peverill Hutto, Colton (Chelsea) Peverill, Kira (Christopher) Arter Dodd, Keaton Arter, Nathan Upton, Benjamin Upton, and Daniel Upton; great grandchildren, Elliot, Hudson, Owen, and Roseveare; brother, Paul Clinton Kaiser (Pam); sisters, Marietta Schnitger (Ray), Nancy Lee Pedneau (Ed), and Carol Jean Vavruska (Larry); sister-in-laws, Dorothy M. Kaiser (Vincent), Mary Carol Kaiser (Robert), and Judith M. Kaiser (Jim).

She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Gordon Upton; her parents, David Anselm Kaiser and Lucille Grace Wilson Kaiser, her brothers; Vincent David Kaiser, James Ralph Kaiser, and Robert Alan Kaiser; her sisters; Frances Mae Johnson, and Theresa Ann Burke; brother-in-laws; Sidney Alan Johnson and Dale John Burke.

Lori's funeral mass will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Plantersville, Texas. The family will greet friends at a visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a rosary to follow at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022 at the Metcalf Funeral Directors in Conroe, Texas. She will rest eternally with her beloved husband, Bob, at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.