Lorraine Fitzgerald

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our incredible Mom, Lorraine Fitzgerald. She passed away peacefully just before midnight on October 16, 2025, surrounded by family. We have all been touched deeply by her 85 years of creative artistry, insane craftsmanship and pursuit of great fun and adventure in all things. We will continue to honor her quest to make the daily everything more beautiful and fun -- and all the wrong turns just another grand adventure!

Lorraine May (Peltz) Fitzgerald was born in Custer, South Dakota on April 22, 1940, to Minnie Mae (Smith) and John Peltz. She grew up in Faith, South Dakota where she was active in basketball, glee club, cheerleading, student council and theater. Lorraine was a Salutatorian and crowned homecoming queen of the class of 1958. She pursued her higher education at Northern State Teacher’s College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where she met her great love, Donald Fitzgerald. Don and Lorraine were married on September 8, 1960.

Five kids soon followed in rapid succession: Jackie, Jim, Patty, Mike and Bob. The young family started out in Brookings, South Dakota where Don finished his degree at South Dakota State University. Lorraine worked in Don’s college department before Jackie arrived. From there, they were off to Huron, SD where three more kids arrived within three years! Don’s work then took them north to Minot, North Dakota where Bob arrived and the family was complete. With every move, Lorraine made each new house a home. In 1973, they settled into their forever home in north Bismarck where they enjoyed rural life with horses, big gardens and gorgeous trees.

Lorraine worked outside the home when she wanted to but found great pleasure in pounding a nail and bouncing babies – admittedly enjoying the former more than the latter! All of her homes -- and ours, have her unique touch, from delicate stained glass windows, to field stone and masonry fireplaces, custom millwork or restored and reupholstered furniture. Our Christmas trees all have her custom crocheted snow flakes and we all keep warm with her hand knit blankets and custom quilts. She also amazed us with her vehicle restoration skills. In one project, she turned an old van into an RV. How did you learn to do that, Mom? “Out of necessity,” she would often say, but her curious optimism and creativity was always game for anything. If she didn’t know how to do something, she was tenacious in her pursuit to learn. Can’t find the right dress? She’d make it. Want to be a Cub Scout? She’s your den mother. A long-time member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, she was active in Guild before us kids and grandkids took most of her time, but she was always down for a good book and a cup of tea when the house was quiet.

She travelled the world once empty nested and was the best travel buddy! The only thing that slowed her down in her later years was Bingo, how-to blogs, puzzles, and regular email correspondence with us kids, but by this time she was our beloved Gram and deserved some relaxation.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Minnie and Tom Mason and John Peltz, twin sister, Elaine Peltz, twin brothers, Ronald and Donald Peltz, brother Ellwood Peltz, and many beloved dogs: Peggy, Maggie, Chippy, JJ, BB and sweet ol’ Thor.

She will be greatly missed by her sweetheart of more than 65 years, Don Fitzgerald, children, Jackie Welch (Tom), Marietta, GA, Jim Fitzgerald (Robin), Copper Center, AK, Patty Fitzgerald (Mark), Minneapolis, MN, Mike Fitzgerald (Tiffany), Bismarck, ND, Bob Fitzgerald (Katie), Lakeville, MN, grandkids, Allyn, Maggie, Ruby, Brittany, Ryan, Melissa, Abigail, Mason and Ellie, plus 6 great-grandkids -- and counting.

Visitation and Rosary on Thursday, October 23rd between 5-7pm, at Bismarck Funeral Home, 3723 Lockport Street. Funeral Mass Friday, October 24th, at 2pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1919 N. 2nd Street, Bismarck. Interment, Monday, October 27th at 2:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to a charity of your choice or Furry Friend’s Rockin’ Rescue in Bismarck: furryfriendsrockinrescue.org