Ina Lorraine Lyman

Ina Lorraine (Ledford, Blehm) Lyman, age 95 passed away peacefully, November 30, 2023 at Grace Point in Greeley Co. She was born to John Seaton and Melvia Gray (Boyd) Ledford on May 30th 1928 in Wiggins Colorado. The 7th of 9 children. Having three brothers Harvey (Velma) Paul (Betty), Robert "Bob" (Aleen "Inky")and five sisters Lucille (Irvin)Wence, Leota (Gaylord) Bottger, Ada (Robert) Loose, Margie

(James) Mason, Jennie (Don) Smith. They grew up on a dry land dairy farm where Lorraine spent most of her time in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning while her siblings did the outdoor chores. She would wash the quart bottles for the milk the family sold in Wiggins. This gave her time to practice on her piano.

Lorraine began playing the piano at age 10. She played for the Wiggins Church Services, the Beethoven Women's Club, the Wiggins High School band, the drama club and taught piano lessons. She graduated in May 1946 and married Elmer Blehm, November 24th, 1946, at the First Methodist Church of Fort Morgan, Colorado. To this Union four children were born Richard Elmer, Kathy Sue, Randy Eugene, and Sandra June. They lived and worked on various farms in the Weld county area, most of their married life. They moved to Kersey, where Elmer worked for the town of Kersey. They spent 47 years together before Elmer passed away on August 13, 993. On August 16, 1998 Lorraine married Vernon Kenneth Lyman. Ken passed away in August 2016.

Lorraine worked at the scale house during beet harvest and 9 years for JC Penney Company. She loved being the Elementary Secretary for Platte Valley RE 7 Schools where she worked for 22 years, retiring in June 1993. She also was the secretary for St. John's United Church of Christ for 4 years where she was a faithful member. Lorraine belonged to the Gill WTL (willing to learn) Extension Club, a member of WAEOP (Weld Association of Educational Office Personnel), The Senior Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program RSVP. of Kersey. She volunteered at the North Colorado Medical Center with the craft

group. Lorraine attended Aims college to improve her typing and secretarial skills. Lorraine loved making crafts and sewing. She would enter her items in the Weld County Fair winning many awards.She canned fruits and vegetables for winter and made zucchini pickles, red (cinnamon) or green (spearmint) for Christmas. Each member of her family received a homemade Christmas ornament each year and peanut

brittle. Christmas dinner always included chicken noodle and butterball soup. Lorraine also made necklaces from zucchini and carrots. She was very talented and creative, selling many of her items at craft fairs.

Lorraine was the last survivor of Ledford family. Preceded in death by her parents; siblings; husbands, Elmer and Kenneth; son, Richard; granddaughters, Anita Warner, and Kimberly Apple; and a grandson,

Brian Gonsior. She is survived by her 3 children, Kathy Warner of Oshkosh Neb., Randy Blehm of LaSalle, Co Sandy Billings (Kevin) of Loveland, Co; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Blehm of LaSalle Co; 13 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 21 great-greatgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A luncheon for Ina will be held Friday, December 8, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Following the luncheon will be a Memorial service at 2:00 PM at St. John's United Church of Christ, 3815 W. 20th Street, Greeley, CO 80634.

Private interment at Lynn Grove Cemetery.