Lorraine G. Ernst

Lorraine Gail Ernst, 95, of O'Neill, died Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Arbor Care Center in O'Neill.

Visitation was held Friday, June 9, 2023 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Faith Community Church in O'Neill. Rev. Paul Harder officiated.

Burial was in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill.

Memorials may be made to Faith Community Church or the Africa Inland Mission in Lorraine's name.

Lorraine was born to Homer and Gail (Parker) Ernst on Jan. 16, 1928 at O'Neill. She grew up on the family farm and attended District #90 through eighth grade and graduated from O'Neill High School in 1945. She later attended Grace Bible Institute (later Grace University) and Wheaton College in Illinois, graduating in 1954. She taught in Holt County rural schools and Niobrara Public Schools.

After joining the Africa Inland Mission, Lorraine spent a year in Belgium studying French, the official language of the Belgian Congo. She was assigned to teach at Rethy Academy, the school for missionaries' children in the Belgian Congo. Beginning in 1960, when Congo gained their independence from Belgium, missionaries were evacuated from the country several times due to political unrest. This was necessary again in late 1997. The country is now called the Democratic Republic of Congo or D.R. Congo.

So in 1997 Lorraine retired in the O'Neill area where she was involved in Faith Community Church and After Five activities, a prayer chain, Bible studies, doing visitation, keeping in touch with friends, former students and fellow workers around the world. This left time for family fun times, raising flowers, reading and doing crossword puzzles.

Lorraine is survived by two sisters Muriel Tieszen of Bend, OR, and Iona (Ivan) Wayman of O'Neill, one brother Richard "Dick" Ernst of Indianapolis, IN, one brother-in-law Don Tuch and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Homer and Gail Ernst, one sister June Tuch, one brother-in-law Clarence Tieszen, one sister-in-law Marcia Ernst and one niece Brenda Tieszen.