Lorraine Kay Householder

December 2, 1945 – September 11, 2025

Lorraine Kay Householder unexpectedly passed away on September 11, 2025, while in a place she treasured, Halfway, Oregon. Surrounded by its beauty and peace, she left this world as she lived in it: with grace, warmth, and a deep connection to the land and people she cherished.

Born in Bethany, Oregon, to Elmer James Croeni and Florence Louise (Stoller) Croeni, Lorraine was raised on the family’s 11 acres. She attended schools in the Beaverton School District and graduated from Sunset High School in 1964.

After attending dental school, Lorraine began her career as a dental assistant for Dr. Keane. She later worked for a company specializing in dental crowns and implants and also served as a school bus driver and dispatcher for the Beaverton School District, roles that brought her joy, often sharing stories about the children she met. Later, she discovered a passion for horticulture, finding fulfillment in the nursery business and earning her Master Gardener certification. As a Master Gardener, she delighted in teaching others about sustainable gardening, a subject she embraced wholeheartedly.

She played for the first organized women’s soccer club on the East Side in the mid-1970s and went on to coach youth soccer from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. The “Soccer Girls” were women whose children played soccer together and who became the founding members of the East Side 24-and-older soccer league. The bonds formed during this time endured for more than 50 years, celebrated through monthly luncheons, birthdays, and shared travel experiences.

On March 17, 1984, Lorraine married Steven Curtis Householder at the Tyee Yacht Club in Portland, Oregon. They shared forty-one wonderful years together, facing life’s joys and challenges hand in hand, their hearts forever intertwined. Lorraine was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Carlton, where she was known for her steadfast faith and generous spirit.

Lorraine deeply loved her family and friends. She found great joy in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and often spoke of her family tree, sharing her heritage with pride. As one of the oldest of the Stoller and Croeni cousins, she embraced that role with grace and a deep sense of connection. Lorraine was a devoted wife, sister, cousin, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her love extended to animals of all kinds, and over the years she cared for horses, pigs, cats, chickens, and dogs.

Lorraine enjoyed sewing, quilting, and needlepoint, creating beautifully crafted pieces that reflected her creativity. She was always excited to learn new things and be creative. She found peace and happiness in her flower garden and took pride in farming her land. She enjoyed teaching others the art of gardening, canning, and cooking from scratch, using fresh produce from her homegrown garden. Lorraine was an exceptional cook. Her homemade lemon meringue pie was legendary.

She cherished time spent camping in Halfway on her parents’ property and loved traveling to Bend, Utah, Michigan, the Oregon Coast, Switzerland, and on her memorable girls’ trips. Lorraine eagerly embraced every opportunity for adventure and connection. She was always ready to embark on a new journey or engage in an activity, whether it was with family or friends.

Above all, Lorraine loved God. Her faith was a guiding light and an inspiration to all who knew her. There are countless words to describe Lorraine: strong, loving, kind, independent, fun, and caring. But perhaps the simplest is that she had a truly beautiful soul. She was unapologetically true to herself, family, and friends. She was passionate about her interests. She is known for her beautiful sense of humor, contagious laugh, and warm hugs.

She is survived by her loving husband, Steven Curtis Householder; her sister, Linda (Steve) Knowles; her children: Eric (Beth) Gatchell, Nichole (Gary) Nilson, Steven (Olga) Householder, Eric (Nicole) Householder, Jeremy Householder, and Nick (Crystal) Householder; 13 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and many beloved cousins.

Lorraine’s legacy is one of faith, love, resilience, and joy. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.