Loretta “Lorry” B. Gefroh, 92 of Devils Lake, North Dakota passed away on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital.
Loretta Beth, daughter of Thoralf P. and Jessie (Doahue) Hjelmstad was born on Nov. 10, 1930, at Lawton, North Dakota. She graduated from Lawton High School in 1948 and taught in a one-room schoolhouse on an emergency teaching certificate.
Lorry was an active member of the Devils Lake community and served as a nurse’s assistant at Mercy Hospital helping children during an influenza outbreak. She was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout pack leader, enthusiastic member of the Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society, the VFW Auxiliary, and St. Joseph’s Choirs in Devils Lake and St. Augustine, FL. Along with her husband, Don, she was a restaurant owner and cook, and worked in a variety of retail positions.
She was an avid gardener, she loved to bake, she made stunning quilts, crocheted blankets, and loved to sew. Above all else, she treasured time with family and friends and brought light and laughter to all she knew. She will be as deeply missed as she is dearly loved.
Lorry is survived by her loving family. Her sister, Theresa J. Fontaine (Grand Forks, ND) and her 6 children: Victoria Janice Hanson and her husband John (Ft. Mills, SC), Steven James Lantz-Gefroh and his wife Valeri (Rocky Point, NY), Audrey Jean Hernandez and her husband Robert (St. Augustine, FL), Mari Jane Nistler (St. Augustine, FL), Debra Josephine Nygaard and her husband Randy (Crary, ND), and Gregory John Gefroh and his wife Elizabeth (Fargo, ND); her 18 grandchildren (Jimmy, Tracie, Wayne, Joe, Alex, Hope, Robert Jr., Kara, Stefani, Mark, Candace, Fields, Chase, Tanner, Kayla, Rylee, Nathan and Colton) and 26 great-grandchildren were the light of her life.
She is preceded in death by her father, Thor Hjelmsted, her mother Jessie Donahue, her brother, Peter Hjelmsted and her husband, Donald J. Gefroh who passed away on March 8, 1999.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m. Rosary will be led by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Joseph Littlefield celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.
Casket Bearers will be James Elfman, Wayne Elfman, Joseph Elfman, Alex Lantz-Gefroh, Mark Nistler, Fieldings Olson, Chase Nygaard, Tanner Nygaard and Rylee Gefroh.
Reading Scripture will be sons Steven Lantz-Gefroh and Gregory Gefroh. Eucharistic Gift Bearers will be Lorry’s daughters Victoria Hanson, Audrey Hernandez, Mari Nistler and Debra Nygaard and her sister Theresa Fontaine. Music will be provided by Lynne Webster and Audrey Myklebust.
