Lorraine Wonnenberg

Lorraine Wonnenberg, 92, Bismarck, residing at the Baptist Health and Rehab Center, went home to be with the Lord on March 27, 2026.

A funeral service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, April 4, at Century Baptist Church, 205 Colt Ave, Bismarck, ND.

Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Lorraine was born May 20, 1933, on a farm northeast of Goodrich, North Dakota, the daughter of Carl and Dena (Konschak) Haux. Lorraine grew up and initially attended country school, played high school basketball, and graduated from Denhoff High School in 1951. Lorraine then moved to Bismarck, where she lived in a rented sleeping room while she worked at the Bismarck Tribune. In 1952, she married Eugene Wonnenberg at the Goodrich Church of God. They farmed near Goodrich, where Lorraine was fully active and engaged in the dairy operation and running large equipment, from one of the combines to a four-wheel tractor—a major transition when her farming started at the age of seven, raking hay with a horse. One of her favorite farm memories was operating a combine on August 31 to finish the last field of the season and then, the next day on September 1, going to the hospital to give birth to one of the children. In 1977, the active farming years came to an end when Eugene purchased the B & J Standard Station, and they moved to Bismarck, where Lorraine became engaged in the family business, doing full-time bookkeeping until 2019.

While growing up, Lorraine enjoyed horses and basketball. Later in life, she was delighted to go to the State Fair and watch the horse pulls. She would sit for hours and cherished every minute of it! Every March, you would find Eugene and Lorraine at high school basketball tournaments.

Lorraine played piano and organ in church most of her life. She was the pianist/organist at the Church of God in Goodrich while her husband, Eugene, led song leading for 25 years. On Saturday afternoons, the farm equipment would stop so the family could practice music for Sunday morning church, and Eugene would practice his Sunday School lesson. When they moved to Bismarck, Lorraine also played piano and organ at Century Baptist Church until a neck injury in 1994 prevented her from continuing. Lorraine donated her grand piano to the Baptist Health and Rehab Center chapel and enjoyed going to events and listening to others play her piano. Music was always present in the home while raising their family, and that music legacy lives on in all three of the children's lives.

As a couple, they enjoyed Southern Gospel music and would often attend the Bill Gaither Praise Gatherings and National Quartet Conventions until travel became too difficult. But that didn’t stop Lorraine from supporting the groups. She helped finance bringing many groups into Bismarck for gospel concerts.

Lorraine excelled in hospitality and had the “special pan” that assisted her in making the best Scotcheroos anywhere! She was a great cook, and she and Eugene not only hosted the family for every holiday, but for many years they hosted a Christmas meal in their home for the adult group from Century Baptist Church.

Lorraine is survived by her children: Tim (Monica), Doug (Robyn), and Lori. She is survived by her grandchildren: David (Tovey) Wonnenberg, John (Sarah) Wonnenberg, Connie (Sean) Dane, and Mandi (Brady Nelson) Zavalney; great-grandchildren: Spencer (Brianna Schmidt), Xander, Elizabeth, Maya, Jack, Grant, and Preston; great-great-grandson, Knox Wonnenberg; one sister, Carol (Don) Whitehead; and many nieces and nephews. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Herman; and grandsons, Michael Wonnenberg, Mark Wonnenberg, and Brock Zavalney.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the following: IMC (International Music Camp) – Brock Zavalney Garage Band Scholarship. Contact: Christine and Tim Baumann, Camp Directors, 701-838-8472.