(nee Strait) Of Milwaukee, WI – Went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 28, 2026, at age 98. Preceded in death by her late husband Ralph H. Bjerke and her three siblings, Clayton Strait, Donald Strait and Marlene (Strait) Hogden. Survived by her children William Bjerke and Gail Eells (Thomas) and grandson Paul Eells (Kristen Ruhl) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was born in Sparta, Wisconsin into a farm family, as was her husband-to-be, Ralph. She was the oldest of the four children of Alexander and Clara (Meland) Strait, and the last to pass. When Ralph passed in 2019, they had been married nearly 71 years. She met Ralph when he was home on leave from duty onboard a US Navy destroyer assigned to the Atlantic in WW II, as she was nannying his nieces and nephews in Sparta. After the war, they married in Sparta.

They made their home in Milwaukee where they raised their children. Lorraine was a licensed beautician and did hair for innumerable customers in Milwaukee and continued at a salon in Sedona, AZ after Ralph retired and they and Billy moved there. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, enjoyed baking and was an expert homemaker rarely seen without a dust rag in her hand. In fact, we had kidded mom that when she dies, we’re going to put a dust rag in her casket with her. Her quick rejoinder was, “That won’t be necessary. There’s no dust in heaven.”

Their time and life were also filled with an epic effort to establish a new Christian church in Sedona at a time when “new age” religions were growing in the area. Rock of Ages Lutheran Church (LCMS) started as a mission church by renting space in the “Flicker Shack”, the local movie house. It quickly grew in membership and the need for space eventually resulted in an actual brick and mortar building among the beautiful red rock landscape of Sedona. Lorraine was president of the congregation’s delegation to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, traveling to conventions and conferences in service of the organization. She also served for 25 years on the alter guild. No one is sure exactly how many cakes she baked for coffee hour or for fund raisers.

In her last years she struggled with her physical inability to serve the Lord in her church. Instead, she was often found to be reading a Christ-centered book, devotional pamphlets or the Bible. She passed from this life knowing where she was going in the next.

Visitation May 7, 2026, at 10:00am and service at 11:00am, followed by reception in the fellowship hall at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 11313 N. Riverland Rd., Mequon, WI. Interment at Wisconsin Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please offer memorial contributions to Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, 390 Dry Creek Road, Sedona, AZ, 86336.