Lorraine Tate

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 5, 2010

Lorraine Florence Tate, 90, passed away May 22, 2010.
Lorraine Florence Toft was born Dec. 5, 1919 in Minneapolis, daughter of Paul Gerhard and Florence Beiersdorf Toft. She graduated from North High School and from Miss Woods Kindergarten-Primary Training College, Minneapolis. She completed her four-year degree in elementary education and music at Winona State University. A lifelong educator, she taught elementary school at Mountain Lake, Glyndon, Barnesville, Oak Grove and, for 38 years, in the Austin Public Schools. She served as president of the Austin Teachers Association (ATA) and on the ATA Negotiation and Grievance committees.
She married James M. Tate on Dec. 27, 1952. The Tates were members of the First United Methodist Church in Austin where Lorraine worked on Christian education until 1982 when the couple moved to Brooklyn Park. She worked in Christian education at Harron United Methodist Church and volunteered in the Hennepin County Medical Center Pediatric Unit from 1982-85, while James was undergoing kidney dialysis. She received four Certificates of Service from MMC in recognition and appreciation for her volunteerism. She volunteered for the Brooklyn Park Grades R Us program and was a member of the Park Villa Townhomes Governing Board, serving as its president from 1998 until the time of her death. For 17 and a half years Lorraine volunteered for the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) in Brooklyn Center. In April 1998 CEAP presented her with the Carol Dale Outstanding Volunteer Award. In 1999, she received the Brooklyn Center Community Education Award from the Brooklyn Center Community Education Advisory Council.
Lorraine is survived by children, Paul Tate of Cologne, Bruce (Jean) Tate of Minneapolis, Mary Hanson of Anoka, Judith Riley of Morris and Patricia (Ronald) Oehler of Knoxville, Tenn.; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Paul Toft, Jr.; son, James L. Tate; and son-in-law, Robert Riley.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 12, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be private.
Memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association, Brooklyn United Methodist Church or CEAP. Arrangements are by Washburn-McReavy.