Lorraine Mae Doran

Lorraine Doran of Pine City passed away Saturday, September 19, 2026 after a month long struggle at Welia Hospital in Mora, Minnesota. She was 86 years of age.

Lorraine Mae Dahl was born on the first day of spring March 21, 1940 in western Minnesota in the town of Dawson to Oscar Dahl and Gudrun (Hoff) Dahl; a Norwegian immigrant. She was the second youngest of six children and Norwegian was spoken in the home. The family moved to a small farm with an outhouse and no electricity in Grasston, Minnesota.

The large family enjoyed a simple country life together in that small house where they sat around an old kitchen table and ate her mother’s tasty meals and talked and laughed. She attended elementary school in Grasston and then went to Braham High School where she was the first female tuba player in the band. She played piano for concerts and helped and tutored struggling students.

She met her husband Jerry at Pine Camp when she was 16 years old and was instantly smitten as she said “he looked like Elvis”. She graduated in 1958 and then married Jerry Doran on August 2, 1958 and they moved to Pine City where she created a life with the love of her life. She became a mother to Lori, Michael and Patrick and enjoyed being a mom, but was also a working mom and had a career as an account clerk for Pine County. Because she worked, she was grateful to have Jerry’s support in washing dishes, clothes and putting the kids to bed (traditionally female responsibilities). While working, she enjoyed her children and grandchildren, was involved in church choir and the church groups. She also participated in the Heritage Players where her last performance was of a prostitute in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.

She battled cancer twice beginning at age 45 and as a result of successful treatment, had heart damage and needed a heart transplant. On September 5, 1997 she received a heart transplant thanks to Dennis Frandrup and his loving, beautiful family. This amazing “Gift” gave her 10 years of wonderful retirement with Jerry where they spent winters in Palm Desert, CA, travelled to France, England and Norway, had many road trips across the country and yearly trips to Branson, along with enjoying watching numerous grandkids hockey games and activities.

They had such an incredible love for each other. Jerry passed away in 2007 and it took her about 5 years to adjust, but she did and she went to her garden for comfort. Her garden was colorful and well cared for. Aside from gardening, she spent her time in volunteer activities such as the Food Pantry, at the nursing home and with the Lions Club. She spent her winters in Los Angeles with her son, where she made friends and was supportive of the gay community and joined in happy hours, dinners and game nights. She was competitive and liked to win and was well loved by them.

She rarely missed her great grandchildren’s hockey games and would watch them on her IPAD when she couldn’t attend and she’d be cheering them along. She was always supportive of her children and was mothering right up until the end. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and felt blessed to be able to see them grow and make memories with them.

She made two more trips to Europe where she was able to connect with our relatives and see her mother’s homeland. Lorraine made her last trip to Maine (her 49th state on her bucket list) in July. She lived life to the fullest. She persevered through a kidney transplant, two heart valve replacements and several bouts of sepsis amongst other health issues. She wanted to keep going for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren…but also for Dennis. She was an amazing woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was intelligent, pragmatic, kind, compassionate, opinionated, feisty, classy, strong, courageous, open-minded and accepting.

Lorraine died on September 19th , 2026 after a month long struggle in Mora, Minnesota. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Lorraine is survived by her children Lori (Kip) Rydberg of Pine City, Mike Doran (Sandy Korf) of Coon Rapids, and Patrick Doran of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren Nick (Amber) Rydberg, Kip (Almon) Rydberg, Adam (Danielle) Rydberg, Sarah (Cody) Youngbauer all of Pine City, Nicole (Chris) Dusenka of Elk River, Karynn Doran of Coon Rapids, and Jordan (Lupe) Doran-Stratton of Los Angeles; great-grandchildren Mason, Ryder (Addy), Ava, Brenna, Milo, Oskar, Kennedy, Max, Veyda, Eavie, Addee, Louie, Isla, Livie, Nolan, Avery, Chase, and Ollie; siblings Arlene Axelson of Cambridge, Glen Dahl of Mora; sisters and brothers-in-law Joyce Lindquist of Blaine, Joy (Jerry) Yost of Brooklyn Center, Dwayne (Cheryl) Doran of Dayton, and Jane Doran of Pine City; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Gudrun Dahl; husband Jerry Doran; son-in-law David Stratton; in-laws Archie and Emma Doran; siblings Adeline Peterson, Harlan Dahl, and Don Dahl; sister and brothers-in-law Jean Lanz, Jim Doran, and Wally Axelson.

A memorial service for Lorraine will be held at 11 AM; Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church of Pine City, with a time for visitation one hour prior to the service at the church, and a luncheon to follow. At the luncheon, a chair and table will be set with her picture and a cup of coffee and you can spend some time with her if you wish. Please come with some fun stories to share and let’s celebrate her beautiful life.

Memorials in Lorraine's name may be directed to the:
University of Minnesota
Division of Transplant Surgery
420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 195
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Funeral arrangements for Lorraine are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel

FuneralAndCremationService.com