Lorene Ethel Hale

in Scottsdale, AZ.

She was a twin, born June 1, 1917, to Ernest and Ethel

Warner Wenger on the family farm southeast of Powhattan,

KS. Lorene attended grammar school at Brown County

District #44 and graduated from Fairview High School at

Fairview, KS, in 1936. After completing her training at

Strickler's Business College in Topeka, KS, she was employed

by the American Insurance Agency and the Security Benefit

Association.

On May 28, 1947, Lorene married Staff Sgt. William Russell

Ralston, Army Air Corps, in Topeka, moving to Rapid City,

SD, where he was stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base.

After William's discharge April 17, 1949, they returned to

Powhattan, KS, where they farmed until moving to Hiawatha

in late 1952. Purchasing a full service laundromat, Lorene

worked along side William to build a successful business. In

August, 1957, a relocation to Colorado Springs, CO, offered

opportunity and she began a career as a secretary for the

Colorado Springs Public Schools. February 9, 1958, they

moved into a new home in Security Village, where Lorene

would spend 45½ years.

After William's death June 10, 1974, Lorene married Alfred

"Al" Aubrey Hale, June 26, 1976. She became a member of the

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church on Palm Sunday,

1978, after previously attending the First Methodist Church in

Colorado Springs.

Lorene retired from School District 11 September 7, 1982,

with twenty-five years of service. Always busy, she volun-

teered at the Fountain Valley (CO) Senior Center for nine

years as a secretary, and three years as treasurer for the

Rocky Mountain Chapter Ex-Prisoners of War, of which she

and Al, an Ex-POW, were members.

Her hobbies included, sewing, crocheting, square dancing,

flowers and traveling. In June 2002, Lorene and Al relocated

to Scottsdale, AZ, where he passed away December 5, 2002.

Lorene moved to the Pueblo Norte Retirement Community

in June of 2005.

She was predeceased by her twin sister, Loraine Ernestine

"Birdie" Wenger of Kansas City, MO, September 16, 2014

and their parents.

Lorene is survived by her brother Alvin (Mary) Wenger, of

Hiawatha, KS; daughter June Ralston (James M.) Tittle, of

Scottsdale, AZ; niece Nancy (Jon) Mitchell, of Lenexa, KS;

nephew Ronald Dean Wenger of Powhattan, KS; grandson

James M. (Jennifer) Tittle, Jr., of Phoenix, AZ; great-niece

Elizabeth (David) Oberle of Keller, TX; great-niece Pamela

Mitchell of Lenexa, KS; great-grandchildren Alicia and Garrett

Tittle; and great-great niece and nephew Audrey and Isaac

Oberle.

Viewing will be Monday, December 15th from 5:00 p.m. to

8:00 p.m. at Dove-Witt Family Mortuary, 6630 S. US Highway

85-87, in Fountain, CO. Services will be held Tuesday,

December 16th at 10:00 a.m. at Dove-Witt Family Mortuary.

Burial will be in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Colorado

Springs, CO