Lorraine Ardith Bickel

Lorraine Ardith (Fimrite) Bickel passed into the arms of the Lord on July 3, 2026, at the age of 92 at Caring Acres Nursing & Rehab and support of Midwest Hospice services. Visitation and Memorial Service will be held at the Congregational United Church of Christ of Anita (501 Locust St., Anita, IA, 50020) on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10 am and Memorial Service begins at 11am. A luncheon will follow the service at the same location.

Lorraine was born April 2, 1934, at St Luke’s Hospital in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to Andrew and Marie (Lee) Fimrite. She was raised on the family dairy farm with her parents and nine siblings; attended country school and graduated from Thief River Falls High School. After high school Lorraine worked as an administrative assistant in Thief River Falls until she met and married her husband Kenneth Eugene Bickel on September 8th, 1959.

Lorraine and Ken lived and worked in California, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, and settled in Iowa the past 40 years or so. Lorraine always put her family’s needs first and lived a long faithful Christian life. She ensured that all her children made it to church, school, and activities all through the years. Lorraine and her husband, along with raising five children, would always be growing beautiful gardens, or be working to restore a house. She lived a life that includes taking time to enjoyed reading books, or listen to Gospel Music on Saturday, or go dancing with Dad at the local veteran’s hall. Family memories include the annual vacation trips to Minnesota each year to visit her brother and sisters’ families. Later in life she always made herself available for things like babysitting the grandchildren; or assisted family in caring for a new baby; how to make brownies; or bring cookies to vacation bible school. Her children will remember all the things she did for her family members, including what a “Great Cook” (especially the Sunday fried chicken dinners, and best apple pie).

She shaped her family with faith and character. Lorraine is survived by her children that include Mia (Bickel) Sullivan & Doug Niblo, Camdenton, MO, Morgan Bickel & Deborah Sundquist of Bloomington, MN., Dorene (Bickel) White, Atlantic Iowa, Diane (Bickel) Winther, Anita IA and Pam (Bickel) & Craig Deichmann, Winterset, IA. Grandchildren include Justin, Jerrid, Logan, Shannah, Casey, Tony, Misty, Rachel, Tate, Shaley, Danielle, Carly, and Amanda, as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Bickel, her parents, Andrew and Marie Fimrite and siblings Norman Fimrite, Ethel Ana Mable, Ruth McFarland, Morris Fimrite, Myrtle Minker, Mae Hanson, Beatrice Marie Hanson, June (Libby) Anderson, and Maryann Erickson.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Anita Congregational United Church of Christ or Caring Acres Nursing & Rehab for activities and can be sent in care of Schmidt Family Funeral Home to P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, Iowa.

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita is caring for the Bickel Family.