Opal Lorraine Wulf, age 101, died Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at her apartment in Touchmark retirement home. Lanie (she didn’t like Opal, and a friend started
calling her Lanie to distinguish from two other Lorraines in her class) was born to Helmer and Clara (Knutson) Insteness on May 20, 1923 in Froid, Montana. She lived in Froid or the family farm near there until graduation from high school and going to Spokane, WA to attend business school in 1941. After training as a secretary, she worked for an insurance company and then for Spokane Air Depot doing filing and “all the boredom stuff.” When her brother Lyle and friend Homer Wulf came to Spokane their courtship began in earnest and she and Homer were married in Couer d’Alene, Idaho on August 22, 1942. This union lasted over 72 years.
Homer enlisted in the military and Lanie followed him to several bases but stayed in Froid when their first son, Gary was born in November, 1943. After time at Yuma, AZ Army Airfield Lanie moved to Kalispell, MT where her parents had recently moved. Son #2, Jeffrey was born in October, 1945. Homer was discharged in November of 1945, at which time they moved to a house they’d bought in Kalispell and started building a house one block from her folks.
In March of 1947 daughter Sharyn was born, followed by a move back to Froid in 1949 where son #3, John, was born in April of 1951. After Dad’s electrical business partner died, we moved back to Flathead County where Homer worked on Hungry Horse dam and Anaconda Aluminum plant construction. Dad’s employer was based in Seattle, so we went there for a while. Even though Homer’s job kept him traveling, we moved to a 5-acre property dubbed “Rancho Lobo” 3 miles outside of Columbia Falls, MT. When Homer worked as the electrician for Glacier National Park, the NPS “preferred” that he live in the park so we lived there for awhile but kept the property outside Columbia Falls. Daughter Lyn was born in October of 1960 while we lived in the park. A final move was to Helena to be closer to family. Here they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary (of 72 years together.)
Music was always a big part of her life, with a public performance as early as age 5, in a duet with sister Avis, age 3. The love of music reached a higher level when her grandma Gina Knutson gave the family a piano, which all the girls learned to play, even without formal lessons. Lanie called it “playing by ear”. She would turn almost every family gathering into a musical event either by starting to play the piano or urging someone else to play or sing. As her hearing failed later in life she could no longer play or even enjoy listening to music. As compensation she played a lot of Scrabble, beating Gary about 40% of the time until just a couple months before her passing.
In 1959, shortly after Homer turned from his old life, Lanie joined him to walk hand in hand in thankful service to the Lord for His abounding grace. She had been spiritually minded for many years, but now found harmony as the couple embraced a new way of life, a life that brought her peace and joy for 65 years. She now has moved on to what she had long been looking forward to.
Those who were close to Lanie described her character using such words and phrases as “grace”, “peace”, “patience”, “caring”, “loving”, “quiet”, “she was the best”, “special”, “always loved”, “my best pen pal” (she was a prodigious letter writer), “always a friend”, “gentle”. What a list … fruits of her spirit coupled with the Spirit from above.
Lanie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Homer, and siblings Lyle, Avis, Galen and Dolores. She is survived by her sister Cheryl Huggins of Olympia, WA, sons Gary (Linda) of Helena, MT, Jeffrey (Bette Gail) of Clancy, MT, and John (Sue) of Ajo, AZ, and daughters Sharyn (Don, deceased) Kuipers of Manhattan, MT and Lyn (Tony Gilliam) O’Neal of May, ID, 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Private services are pending.
Frederick J Wulf says
You were a pillar of strength and love in our family. Your absence leaves a void, but your spirit and the love you gave us will remain in our hearts. Your wisdom and advice were invaluable to me. I will miss our conversations and the way you always seemed to know just what to say to make everything better.
Jennifer Lyn says
As Lanie’s 8th grandchild, to say she was an amazing grandparent is an understatement. She was my Grandma, my caregiver when my parents worked, my playmate, my board game buddy, my chef, my advisor, my confidante, my cheerleader, my Paul Harvey buddy, my Pizza Hut date, and a loving shoulder to lean on. I am BEYOND lucky to have been blessed with her as my grandmother. Thanks for the abundance of memories, quality time, laughter, snuggles, and recipes. You’ll be missed, but I am so thankful you’re no longer hurting and can rest. Love you my beautiful Opal Lorraine 💗.
Pat D. says
Lanie was a special person. She will be missed here on earth. Lanier always knew me, no matter how or where she saw me. God bless you Lanie, you may be gone here on earth, but not forgotten.