Lorene Mae Schlesener, 90, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 2, after suffering a stroke. She had been in failing health for several years.
She was born Sept. 21, 1920, in Hope, to Otto and Selma (Albrecht) Schimming. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. When she was 3, she lost her parents and was raised by her grandparents. Lorene graduated from Hope High School in 1938.
On Feb. 4, 1940, Lorene was united in marriage to Ellwood Schlesener at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Herington (Lyons Creek), at the same church where she was baptized and confirmed.
Lorene helped her husband farm for 21 years in Kansas before moving to Montana in 1961 to follow her husband who worked on construction of U.S. missile projects. After that work was completed, they moved to Washington State, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah where her husband worked on road construction. They retired to Billings in 1978.
Lorene was a faithful member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church. She was also a member of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), and before failing health, she enjoyed working with the quilting group of Mount Olive.
She was preceded in death by her parents in 1923; her husband in 2005; a son, Dennis, in 1988; and her brother, Harold Schimming formerly of Denver.
She is survived by her children, Willard Schlesener and wife Shirley of Gridley, Calif., LeRoy Schlesener and wife Bev of Laurel, Mont., Karen Oset and husband James of Billings, and Rod “Boomer” Schlesener of Safford, Ariz. Also surviving are eight grandchildren; 14 great- grandchildren, with one soon to be born; six step-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Visitation was 1 to 8p.m. April 6 at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, Billings.
Services were at 10 a.m. April 7 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2336 St. John’s Ave, Billings.
Memorials may be made to Mount Olive Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Hour, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis MO 63141-8557.
Remembrances may be shared with the family by visiting http://www.michelottisawyers.com.