Lorraine Beatrice Hanela

With great sadness we announce the passing of Lorraine Beatrice Hanela on October 17, 2025 at the age of 91.

Lorraine was born in March of 1935 to Helia (Loftberg) and Joseph Goard in Ely, MN. Aside from two years in Minneapolis, she has been a lifelong resident of Ely. She was a graduate of Ely Memorial High School and the Minneapolis School of Business.

Following high school and subsequent graduation from the Minneapolis School of Business, she was employed as a personal secretary of a local bank.

She enjoyed the local city lakes, museums, and camaraderie of roommates also from Ely.

Two years later she returned to Ely and married Leonard Frank Meden, briefly working at Reserve Mining as an administrative secretary. Together, Lorraine and Leonard built a family and a new life together, producing two daughters, Pam and Wendy.

They enjoyed a rich life together with the 'Beacon Hill Gang,' visiting, barbecuing, and sponsoring annual wood tick field burns in which the whole neighborhood participated. They gathered with food, drink, and treats, including the 50-plus kids.

Lorraine enjoyed trapping, hunting and fishing, as well as gardening. She enjoyed flying with her husband in the seaplane, motorcycle riding and her friendships, family and children.

At the age of 54, Lorraine returned to work for Tom and Woods resort following the death of Leonard. She joined a Women's Life and became their chair, was a regular participant in the birthday club, and had many travel adventures both in and out of state with her friends.

In 1977, she rekindled a friendship with a high school classmate, John Haela. In May of 1998 they married and a new life chapter began. She gained a new family to combine with the rest. Their life was rich, with family get-togethers, traveling, and gardening until his passing. Lorraine always said she was "lucky" to have two great husbands.

In her most recent years, she enjoyed going for car rides around Ely, the old neighborhood, and Shagawa Lake. She enjoyed hot fudge chocolate shakes with her son-in-law, Kenny, visits with both daughters and walks in her wheelchair around local neighborhoods.

Lorraine is preceded in death by both husbands, Leonard Meden and John Hanela, sons-in-­law, David Archer and LeRoy Jenson.

Lorraine is survived by her two daughters, Pamela (Kenny) Kiefat and Wendy Archer, grandchildren, Mary Jean (Pete) Grubich, Mike (Rhonda) Traveis, Jamie Patterson, David Archer, Issac Archer, daughter-in-law Theresa Archer, stepchildren Paula (Tim) Sarong, Gary Nelson, Donna (Mitch) Buster, Mark (Michelle) Nelson and Mary (Jim) Nelson, as well as special cousins, David (Nancy) Lundeen and Marion Pelto. Survived also by numerous grandchildren including Breanna Bailey, Epiphany 'Piph' Marks, Paisley and Jack Grubich, Nikolai and River Archer and great-grandchild, Naomi Archer.

Lorraine will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her. She was an empathetic listener and possessed a great sense of humor.

In lieu of a funeral, the family has elected to have a celebration of life for family members only late next spring.

A special Thank You to the wonderful care provided by Carefree Living and to the hospice staff at Essentia Health.