Lorraine Frances Nicholls RIDDLE

1921 - 2016

RIDDLE, Lorraine Frances Nicholls

Was born to Bertrand and Laura Nicholls in Ypsilanti, North Dakota on November 22, 1921. Lorraine was the oldest of five children, followed by Gordon, Eileen, Robert and Helen. She was the survivor of her generation. She quickly accomplished all she could learn in her hometown and went to Glasgow, Montana to finish her high school education, where she lived with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Putz. She was fourteen that year and a wonderful reader. While she was in Montana, her parents gave up their farm in dust-ridden North Dakota. The family moved first to La Clede and then to the Spokane Valley. The family lived in the valley for a time and while their parents worked to provide for them, Lorraine and her siblings worked together growing vegetables in the garden, picking fruit, and preserving vegetables for the family. Lorraine also became active in the FFA and was the representative of the Washington State Apple Commission. Then the family moved to North Spokane, where Lorraine attended Northwest Business School. She learned of a job in Seattle and moved there with the help of a friend she knew from Montana. While she was getting settled there, she heard from her father that she had passed the Civil Service exam and there was a job waiting for her in Washington, D.C. She quickly gave notice and packed for her big adventure. She was 18 that year. Lorraine worked in the typing pool for the federal government and on weekends was able to travel up and down the East Coast. Her favorite memory is walking down Pennsylvania Avenue with her friend and having FDR pass by in an open car. He was so close she could have reached out and touched him. That was the last time he was able to do this as it was 1941. War restrictions made living in Washington more and more difficult, so that late in 1942 Lorraine returned to Spokane. She went to work at the air depot. There she met Lt. Frank J. Riddle who was passing through on his way to his assignment with the Flying Tigers in China. They corresponded and when he returned to the United States, they married three days later at the Fort Wright Chapel. It was 1945 and Frank was mustered out of the service. In October 1946, they bought property at Diamond Lake and built a lake home where they entertained many friends and family. They made their permanent home in Spokane on the lower south hill. They began raising their family when Frank was recalled for the Korean Conflict. After training in Texas and California, the family returned to Spokane where Lorraine managed the many deployments and held the family together. As they felt retirement approaching, Frank and Lorraine traded the lake home for the Lakeside Resort on Diamond Lake. There the entire family worked to provide college funds for the three children and a place for their retirement. Frank retired in 1969, ending his career as the Maintenance Commander for Fairchild Air Force Base. In January of 1974 Frank died suddenly and Lorraine stepped into the next phase of her life. She sold the resort and found a home in south Spokane. She began a 25-year stint as a volunteer for the Civic Theater. As a Breast Cancer survivor, she also learned to play golf and joined the Nine Hole Women's groups at both Downriver and Indian canyon golf clubs. In the winter she worked as a reading tutor at Jefferson Elementary. She relished teaching grandchildren to play golf. She also loved spending time with her family at Spirit Lake, ID. Lorraine was an amazing Scrabble player and did crossword puzzles in Ink. She was an extremely intelligent and strong person. Her life was spent caring for her family and teaching the values of family. Lorraine is survived by her children: Lorna and Richard Taylor, Dale and Becky Riddle, Curtis and Christine Riddle; grandchildren: Jeremy and Dana Taylor, Travis and Vickie Riddle, Grant and Julie Riddle, Josh and Paige Erickson, Mat and Aja Riddle, Josh and Annie Riddle; and great-grandchildren: Isabelle Erickson, Leila Riddle, Silas Riddle, Maggie Riddle, Callum Riddle and the Coulter boys, Dylan and Kendra, Levi, Jamison, Travis; and Great-great grandson Ryker Coulter, age one week. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and life-long friends. Lorraine would want remembrances made to the Humane Society, the Shriners Hospital for Children, the Union Gospel Mission, Planned Parenthood or the Meals on Wheels, as no one should go hungry. Our family would like to thank the staff as Sunshine Gardens, Mobile Medicine and Deaconess Hospital for their care and compassion as our mother declined. She lived 94+ productive years, caring for all in the family that needed care, or food or help. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Centerplace Event Center, 2426 N Discovery Pl, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.