Lorraine DeAnn Valdez

Copeland - Lorraine DeAnn Valdez was born to Orlan and Lena Jantz Wedel at Copeland, Kansas, on August 8, 1943. She peacefully took her final breath and gained her eternal home on the morning of December 13, 2024, at the age of 81.
Mom spent her childhood on the farm eleven miles north of Copeland. She received her education at the Colusa School, and formed friendships there that lasted throughout her life. She was born again at the age of 11 and baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by her father, Min. Orlan Wedel. Although she later left the Church for a number of years, she always knew where she belonged.
Mom lived in a variety of places through her twenties and thirties: Montezuma, Hugoton, and Garden City, Kansas; Cascade, Colorado; Topeka, Kansas; and St. Louis, Missouri. She worked in food service, at an auto body shop, as a manager of an apartment building, and at a locksmith, among other things. She was married for several years to Richard Valdez, and was blessed with a son, Christopher, which she said was the best thing that ever happened to her.
During this time she became acquainted with Bernice Leahy, who babysat Chris and ended up becoming a permanent part of our lives. Concern for her son's salvation caused Mom to make the decision to come back home, and she returned to her Savior and the Church in 1981. She never again wavered in her commitment to God.
Several months after returning home, Mom found her true calling when she started teaching at the Salem Valley Christian School. She was a gifted teacher. Many children came through her 5th and 6th grade classroom, and Ms. Valdez helped them to reach their full potential. She had high expectations for her students and gave them the confidence to achieve. She taught for 22 1/2 years and touched countless lives. Many of her students and co-teachers became friends for life. After Mom quit teaching, she spent some time working in home health and dietary at Bethel Home before retiring. In 2015 Mom sold the old home place and moved into a duplex at Bethel Home. Here she enjoyed spending time with her siblings and friends as much as her health allowed.
Mom was a singer and made many memories singing with friends. She was a lover of words and language, and loved to read. She enjoyed writing poetry. After an especially meaningful communion service, she wrote a poem that later became the song, He Touched Me. She had an offbeat sense of humor and ready wit. She loved animals and always had at least one house cat. Her ability to listen with an understanding heart and accept people as they are without judgment enabled her to form meaningful relationships, and was a gift to her close friends. Many of her nieces and nephews claimed her as a special aunt. In the last number of years, Mom and her siblings became very close, and Mom cherished their times together. She also enjoyed her weekly Monday morning coffee with friends. Mom loved her small family fiercely. Her son was the light of her life, and she accepted her daughter-in-law as her own. She had a special relationship with each of her four grandchildren, and they loved her dearly. We will miss her sparkle, humor, spunk, and love.
In October, Mom was diagnosed with acute leukemia. The prognosis was not good, and after enduring a partial round of chemo, Mom made the choice to stop treatment. She remained at rest with this decision. As she declined, she willingly made the move to full care in Bethel Home, and her last 5 weeks were spent there, where she was lovingly cared for. Her settled peace, gracious acceptance, and calm joy in facing death have been an inspiration. The thought of heaven and being with Jesus thrilled her heart. The last two months spent helping care for her have been a special gift.
Mom leaves to mourn her passing her son, Chris and Julie Valdez of Eakly, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Colin and Andrea Valdez, Shannon and Colin Nightingale, Grant Valdez, and Elena Valdez, all of Eakly, Oklahoma; her siblings, Dorothy Yost and Delton and Sylvia Wedel, all of Montezuma, Kansas, Lynn and Annie Wedel of Farmington, Kentucky, and Eileen and Darrell Nightingale of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and many other dear relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Marlin; two nephews, Travis Nightingale and Mervin Yost; a brother-in-law, Wilbur Yost; and a special friend and niece, Connie Wedel.
We would like to give a heart-felt thank you to the Bethel Home and Garden City Hospice staff for your loving care of Mom, and to our friends from far and near for your love, care, and support. You have blessed us in so many ways and lightened our load during this difficult time.
Funeral service will be held at Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Steve Unruh, Sam Unruh, Ryan Nightingale, and Lynn Wedel presiding. Burial will follow at Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Monday, December 16, 2024 from noon to 3:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.