Lorraine A. Hatzenbeler

Lorraine A. Hatzenbeler, 86, Mandan, died Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Lakewood Senior Living.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, with Fr. Keith Streifel celebrating. Burial will be held at Mandan Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Lorraine was born January 5, 1939, to John and Angeline (Leingang) Eckroth in Mandan, ND. As a young woman, she met Gene Hatzenbeler at a dance and they fell in love. They were married on August 20, 1960, in the Huff church. In 1975, Gene built their forever home in north Mandan where they raised their three children and shared their lives together. In their later years, the two entered square-dance competitions and attended square dance conventions. When Alzheimer’s took her memory, Lorraine, thinking her daughter Annette was her sister Rosella, would still sweetly recall the dances in Fort Rice and ask if she was going. She and Gene also enjoyed traveling together, visiting Australia and Alaska. They especially loved the trips they took with Monsignor Patrick Schumacher with St. Joseph Catholic Church to Jerusalem, Rome, and Israel where she was proud to have ridden a camel.

Lorraine operated a daycare out of her home until her own children were in school. She also worked as a cook at Mandan High School and then at Bismarck State College where she eventually retired. However, she then went to work at Harvey Keeney’s Meat Shop, officially retiring for good in 2007.

Lorraine was known as an excellent cook, especially for her special recipes which included her homemade pickles. She enjoyed canning and made tasty German potato salad which was often requested for funerals and other occasions held at her church. People raved about her delicious sour cream apple pies. She was always willing to share her recipes with friends and family.

Lorraine and Gene had three wonderful children. Annette, a friendly people person who built a career in customer service. Chris, a chemist with a knack for carpentry. And Gene, an accomplished biologist and skilled fishermen. Each is happily married with beautiful families of their own.

Blessed to have shared in her life is her husband of 64 years, Gene Hatzenbeler, Mandan; three children, Annette (Don) Schafer, Mandan; Chris (Ginger) Hatzenbeler, Middletown, DE, and Gene (Lara) Hatzenbeler, New Richmond, WI; seven grandchildren, Amanda Schafer, Justin Schafer (girlfriend, Alice Courey), Nicole (Darren) Pitman, Spencer Waddle (Nuan Han), Bailey Waddle, Austin Hatzenbeler, & Kyla Hatzenbeler; 4 great grandchildren, Damarri, Kye, Alex, and Mikaela; siblings, Donald (Delanis) Eckroth, Mandan, Rosella Kuhn, Bismarck, and Raymond Eckroth, Mandan; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Eckroth, Mandan; as well as many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Alex, Adam, John (Ethel), Jake (Judy), Vincent, Albert (Bernice & Alice), and infant Valentine; sisters, Elizabeth (Edward) Miller, Hildegard (Albert) Miller, Genevieve (Robert) Haller, Viola (Bob) Klesalek, and infant Mary Magdelene; brother-in-law, Ralph Kuhn; and sister-in-law, Priscilla Eckroth.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Edgewood Vista of Mandan or the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Jaslyn Magstadt, memory care nurse at Edgewood Mandan, Jillissa Vollmer hospice nurse at CaringEdge Hospice, and all of the staff that helped care for Lorraine. Tracy Barbie, Gene’s loving and wonderful caregiver for taking such good care of him and for your support and friendship. As well as Annette’s wonderful supportive friends and family who helped and cared so much along the way, you know who you are.