Nov. 20, 1949 – Mar. 5, 2022
Lorraine Marie Roberge
Laurie knew since she was twelve years old that she would be a teacher. She studied English and Theater at Mayville State in North Dakota, where she demonstrated her talent for the stage. Laurie then began a career focused on teaching English to junior high and high school students. “Ms. R.” was well loved and remembered by her former pupils well into adulthood.
Laurie was always a teacher, in and out of the classroom. When spinning wool at a local arts festival, she demonstrated how to transform raw wool into yarn. Always prepared with a conversation starter to keep her hands busy, she’d demonstrate how to make lace with tiny spools of thread and may be single-handedly responsible for the recent resurgence of tatting. Laurie loved history and could add context and fun facts to any conversation.
Laurie was a creative, with more interests than are possible to list. She most often enjoyed fiber and paper arts (quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, paper-piecing, rubber stamping, and scrapbooking). She believed in the importance of making time to create, and often organized crafting days, welcoming anyone to gather socially to work on projects. She was a consummate hostess, providing refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere. She met many people, and always left as friends.
She had a soft heat for animals, especially dogs and cats. She considered herself an honorary godparent to her friends’ pets, and often pet-sat for the joy of being around them.
A devoted and generous friend, Laurie was always ready with an ear to listen and a prayer to comfort.
Laurie was the family historian, often recounting tales from “the farm,” of her life growing up in a large family on the North Dakota plains. Laurie passed away peacefully in her sleep, the morning of March 5. She is survived by her daughter Sarah; brothers John, Mike, Jerry, their families, and sister-in-law Kitty; dear friends; and countless students. She was preceded in death by her parents Hermas Eli and Agnes Marie (Hogue) Roberge and her brother Donald Roberge.
As a way of remembrance, please consider donating to, or volunteering at, your local pet shelter or school district.
Note: Obituary courtesy of Laurie's daughter Sarah Sharp. Click on Laurie's Memorial Slideshow in left sidebar for the original plus a slide show.