Lorene Christman

Lorene Fraeschle Christman, 79, long-time resident of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in the early evening of Oct. 3, 2012. She was comforted by the truth that God was always with her.

Lorene was born Dec. 3, 1932, on the family farm in rural Beulah, N.D., not too far away from the farm her future husband was born on. She was the last of eight children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, John Fraeschle, Jr. and Henrietta Riedlinger. Lorene received infant baptism into the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Known as “Lorena” by her family, she grew up a farm girl and attended school through the eighth grade. During the Great Depression, Lorene’s father managed to keep two farms and operated a general store, which Lorene and her siblings helped run. She attributed her father’s smart business sense and mother’s frugal industriousness in getting the family through this dire time, traits Lorene would display as an adult.

In 1943, her father died unexpectedly, and a few years later both farms were sold and a farm house moved into the town of Beulah, where Lorene, her mother and sister Esther lived. Being closest in age, Lorene and Esther were the best of friends and spent much time together as teenagers.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Lorene, her mother and siblings took train trips to Washington to see their uncle. Along this route, they stopped in Columbia Falls to visit Lorene’s oldest sister and brother-in-law. It was during one of these trips that she became acquainted with Helmeth Christman, whom she married in the Judge’s Chambers at Columbia Falls City Hall on Feb. 5, 1952.

Like most of the Christmans, they established their home along the Flathead River and lost everything in the Flood of 1964. But with faith and determination, Lorene and Helmeth rebuilt their home, their life, and continued on together, through good times and bad.

Lorene had a natural talent for playing the piano, but her forte was the accordian. She was an avid fisherwoman and often outshone her husband in the sport. Lorene passed on to her family her heritage by often cooking wonderful German food.

As a child, Lorene learned how to crochet and knit at the knee of her mother and became very talented at this art. She will be remembered for the beautiful handcrafts she created, including countless numbers of doilies and braided rugs she donated for fundraisers or sold at the Farmers Market. There was rarely a moment when she didn’t have a crochet needle and thread in hand.

Lorene was a member of the Northwest Montana Accordian Association and the Seniors Center of Columbia Falls, and a volunteer “craft lady” for Immanuel Lutheran Communities, to whom she generously donated so many lovely items for its annual auxiliary Holiday Bazaar.

But Lorene’s true talent was as a wife, mother and homemaker, always putting the needs of her family first. She always felt her greatest accomplishment was her children and grandchildren, of whom she was so proud. Everyone who knew her will always remember how kind, loving and beautiful she was.

Lorene was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, her parents, and her siblings and their spouses, sister Clara and Fred Christman, sister Ella and Jake Dschaak, Jr., sister Viola Sayler, infant sister Rebekah, brother Louis and Evelyn (Klundt), brother Albert and Hilda (Renner), and brother-in-law Tobias Koehler.

She is survived by her children, daughter Edith Christman, Columbia Falls, daughter Diane and Steve Holladay, Kila, and son Lyle and Tiffany Christman, Seattle; grandchildren Beth and Mike Schultz, Katie Christman, Jacob Christman, Joshua Holladay and Trevor Holladay; great grandchildren Dominic, Sarah, Avery, Ella, Mary, Aiden and Lisa; sister Esther Koehler and brother-in-law Leo Sayler, both of Beulah, N.D.; former daughter-in-law Linda Whitaker, Kalispell; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held in the chapel of Columbia Mortuary on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at 10 a.m. with funeral services at 11 a.m. Burial will follow immediately after at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls, where Lorene will be laid to rest next to Helmeth. Cards of condolence may be left at Columbia Mortuary or sent to the family at P.O. Box 2719, Columbia Falls MT 59912.