Lorraine Verna Rucks

Lorraine Verna (Sickmann) Rucks, age 99, passed away on May 24, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center, Arlington, MN.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 31st at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, MN.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 30th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington and one hour prior to funeral service at the church. Interment will follow the funeral service at Arlington Public Cemetery.

Lorraine was born on August 11th, 1923 in Arlington Township to Theodore and Louise “Lizzie” (Witte) Sickmann.  She was baptized on August 26, 1923 and confirmed on May 2, 1937 by Pastor Heidmann, St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington.  Lorraine graduated from the Rural Schools of Sibley County on June 26, 1939.

Lorraine married Bernard Ernst Levi Rucks on October 28, 1941.  They resided in Jessenland Township, where they farmed for many years.  They started an Agri-Business in 1958 selling and servicing various farm management systems, where Lorraine administered the bookkeeping.  They sold the farm and moved into Arlington in 1974 and retired from Agri-Business in 1987.  Bernard passed away in January 2011 and Lorraine continued to reside at their Arlington home until April 2021.  She then moved into Arlington Assisted Living, then in August of the same year she transferred to the Good Samaritan home. 

Lorraine was a life-long member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  She belonged to Ladies Aid, Mission Club, and taught Thursday school for many years.  She enjoyed playing cards and various board games, square dancing, baking, sewing, canning, reading several local newspapers, journaling, traveling, and celebrating birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries with family and friends.  She never let anyone leave her house hungry.

She was preceded in death by husband of over 69 years, son Maynard, son Cameron, daughter-in-law Dorene, grandson Jeffery, step-grandson Paul, both parents, three brothers in infancy, one granddaughter in infancy, siblings and in-laws: Eldred and Violet Sickmann, Florence and Milo Petzel, LeRoy Petzel, Merrill Sickmann, John Lind, Oliver and Elizabeth Rucks, Oradel and Orlin Kistner, Bernice and Milo Soeffker, Mildred and Arnold Ristau, Glendora and Stanley Puckett, Gladys and Francis Citrowski.

Survived by children Karen (David) Nieland, Sheldon (Sally) Rucks; daughters-in-law Pamela (Edward) Forrester, Eunice Beneke-Rucks; Sisters Berdina Petzel and Mayona Lind; Sister-in-law Irene Sickmann; 13 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

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