Lorraine Porter

Lorraine A. Porter was born on Jan. 12, 1920, in Richardton, and she passed away March 26, 2017. She was one of nine children born to John A. and Elizabeth (Brittner) Forster. Lorraine lived in Richardton until 1942, when she married Melvin Porter. In 1943, Melvin and Lorraine moved to Cut Bank, Mont., where Melvin worked for the railroad until 1948, then they moved to Halliday, where they operated Mel's Café until 1965. They moved to Leith in 1965 and raised cattle until 1981, when they retired and moved to Bismarck. After Mel's death in 2004, Lorraine lived in Bismarck until 2008, then moved to Grand Forks to be near her son Michael and his wife Ann.

Lorraine lived at Valley Memorial Homes until her death. Lorraine prepared homemade meals daily in the living quarters at the back of Mel's Café, in addition to the many hours she worked in the restaurant. She was well known in the area for her great home-cooked meals, as well as her homemade pies and cookies. During their retired years, Lorraine and Mel had a lake home on Lake Sakakawea where they enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends. One of Lorraine's greatest joys was having her granddaughters Mary and Julie at the lake during summer vacations. Lorraine enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, playing cards, and spent many hours crocheting, with each family member and grandchild receiving one of her afghan blankets. She was a kind and caring person. Her and Mel's most memorable vacation was a trip to England in 1971, where they visited Mel's family relatives. The story of their trip was heard many times at family gatherings.

Lorraine is survived by her sons, Thomas, Elgin, and Michael (Ann), Grand Forks; grandchildren, Mary Porter, Atlanta, Ga., and Julie (Brandon) Brown; great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Brody, Brown Rogers, Minn.; brothers, Francis and Bill, and sisters Florence Campagna, all of Bismarck, and Grace Kearns, Augusta, Ga. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Melvin; brothers Ervin and John Forster; and sisters Irene Walth and Phyliss Rinker.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials to either the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 1825 46th Street, Mandan, ND 58554 or Valley Memorial Homes 4004 24th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201.

A private family burial service will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, on Friday morning, May 12. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Kelley Inn, 1800 North 12 Street, Bismarck, ND, beginning at 12 p.m. Friday May 12, 2017.

A guestbook may be signed or viewed at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com