Lorayne Adell Radde

Lorayne Adell (Nissen) Radde, 86, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Maple View Memory Care, Fargo, ND, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Lorayne (Laurie to her friends) was born on March 31, 1938, to Nanning and Marie (Chell) Nissen in Fergus Falls, MN. She grew up in the Dane Prairie and Orwall Townships area and attended and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1956. She went on to attend Concordia College in St. Paul, MN, and received her master’s degree in English at Concordia College in River Forest, IL. She was united in marriage to Reverend Richard Radde on June 30, 1961, in Fergus Falls, MN.

Lorayne taught high school English at Bemidji High School, Bemidji, MN, before teaching at Gray Summit Lutheran High School, Gray Summit, MO. Over the next few years, they lived in many different communities such as Cass Lake, MN, Allantown, MO, and Amherst, WI, where her husband Richard, would lead parishes.

Lorayne returned to school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she earned her second master’s degree in library science. She found fulfillment in her work as a librarian in Stevens Point, WI, Lake Agassiz Regional Library in Moorhead, MN, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and most recently at the Moorhead Public Library before retiring in 2000. In her retirement years, she enjoyed organizing the library at Christ the King Lutheran Church and organizing library resources for Hospice of the Red River Valley. She was generous with her time, talent, and energy. 

Lorayne was an active member at Christ the King Lutheran Church, partaking in various church functions and clubs, such as the Women’s Circle, Book Clubs, and Befrienders. She enjoyed traveling, meeting new people, and trying new things. Above all, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren and family. After 60 years of marriage, Lorayne and Richard were dearest and constant companions. She took very good care of him in his last few years, and it was often said she was the feet, and he was the head in their relationship. Richard passed away on April 3, 2022. 

Lorayne is survived by her daughter, Rachel (Martin) Schmidt-Radde; grandchildren, Oliver and Thomas Schmidt-Radde; sister-in-law, Helga Nissen; and many other loving relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard; son, Jacob; parents, Nanning and Marie; and her brothers, Norman, Lowell, and Maurice.

Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., followed by the memorial service at 11:00 A.M., Friday, July 19th, 2024, at the Lutheran Church of Christ the King, Moorhead, MN. A livestream of the service will be available here on Lorayne's webpage. Final resting place will be at Trinity Faith Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN.

The family of Lorayne Radde would like to extend a special thank you to Lorayne’s nephew, Aaron Nissen, for the care and support he provided these last years and to Maple View Memory Care for their compassionate care these past months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.