Grace C. Lorentzen, age 96 of Washburn, ND died June 9, 2009 at her home.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Washburn Baptist Church

Interment: Riverview Cemetery - Washburn

Visitation: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Friday at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn.
Saturday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Grace C. Barlow was born May 8, 1913 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, daughter of Ed & Emma (Anderson) Barlow. As a child, Grace attended school in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota with the last two years of high school in Washburn. The defining moment of her life came when she and her sister, Blanche, accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord, while attending Asbury Camp at age sixteen. This changed the course of her life. Her dream was to marry a rancher, desiring a man that didn't drink, smoke, swear or chase women. She found that man in Henry Lorentzen. Henry and Grace were married in Henry, South Dakota on Sept. 27, 1931 in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Blanche Barlow, and Henry's brother, Osborne Lorentzen. Henry and Grace's marriage lasted for 65 years. The couple made their home in the Washburn area and then settled permanently next to the old Lorentzen homestead overlooking the beautiful Missouri River bottoms. Grace's second dream was to have 4 children, two girls and two boys. Sadly, their first child lived only 12 days due to complications in childbirth. In the years to come, the couple welcomed two daughters, Estell and Yvonne, and later two sons, Norman & Ross, -- each a dream come true. Grace was an ambitious farm woman who grew big gardens each year and milked her own cows. She also raised poultry, Norwegian Elk Hounds, German Shepherds and Boxers as a side business, as well as managing the Spanish Paint Horse and cattle operation with her husband.

Henry, a developing artist, soon gained notoriety in the state of ND and surrounding states. It was well known that she supported him 100% in his artistic endeavors by allowing him to concentrate on his art work. Grace handled all the art business transactions and put the finishing touches on framing projects. Grace also possessed artistic talent herself, having studied art in school. She gave Henry a watercolor painting as a first gift. He too gave her delightful small paintings as gifts through the years, including his first painting. The couple eventually retired from ranching, but never officially retired from the art business. Henry painted into his 96th year, with Grace a behind-the-scenes source of support and encouragement. Even though Grace and Henry lived in humble circumstances, not having running water or electric lights for 30 years of their marriage, because of their art business, they were comfortable in the company of both Governors and local neighbors alike.

Occasionally they spent winters in California, with daughter Estelle, or Indiana with daughter Yvonne to enjoy the grandchildren and mild winters. When Henry passed away in 1997, Grace moved to Indiana with the idea of permanent residence; the idea didn't last as she felt North Dakota calling her home. When she returned home, she moved in with her grandson, John Lorentzen and his wife Darcy, on the family ranch. She continued to live independently in her own bedroom suite, cooking and caring for her own needs up until the past month. In later years she had an insatiable appetite for reading and doing word circles to pass the time. She was especially known for her contentment in all things. Grace was deeply committed to the family and prayed daily for her children and grandchildren. She often told her life story so that the grandchildren would understand that her happy and contented life was because she trusted the Lord above all else. Grace was a Washburn resident for over 80 years and attended the United Methodist Church of Washburn, until her hearing began to fail.

She is survived by two daughters, Estell Torgerson of Vinton, Iowa, & Yvonne McGuire
of Underwood, IN; two sons, Norman Lorentzen and wife Karla of Bismarck, & Ross Lorentzen and wife Janice of Washburn; 14 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Martha Joyce Lorentzen (born Feb. 12, 1933); husband, Henry Lorentzen; daughter-in-law, Naomi Watt Lorentzen; granddaughter, Heidi Lorentzen Leuf; her parents, Ed and Emma Anderson Barlow, two sisters, Mildred Barlow Thompson & Blanche Barlow Lorentzen; one brother, Russell Barlow; and son-in-law, Byron McGuire.

Grace Lorentzen was a pioneer woman, a model of determination and an excellent example of how an ordinary life can be extraordinary through faith in Christ. We; her children and grandchildren will miss her dearly.