LORRAINE ALICE HANSON, 1935 – 2025
Lorraine Alice Nottingham was born at St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge on Dec. 22, 1935, to parents, Gladys and George Nottingham.
She grew up with her siblings, Ernest, Dorothy (Tilley), and Margaret (Brooks), on a farm northeast of Warner, and moved with her parents to Lethbridge at the age of 13.
In 1954, Lorraine married Alvin Brack, and they had three children:
– Dixie (Ball), who had four daughters, Khristina (Byrnes), Amanda (Cave), Jacqueline, and Tina.
– Brian, who had two sons, Jared, and Addison.
– Michelle (Gladstone), who had 3 children, Keegan, Jenessa (Crippen-Gladstone), and Leia (Corpuz)
Lorraine and Alvin divorced, and, in 1970, Lorraine married Gordon Hanson, and his children were Shelley (Rue), Sharon (Krushel), Harlan, and Terry (Hydomako).
Lorraine worked as a clerk for many years, most notably at Rexall Drugs in downtown Red Deer, where she was an expert in the many beauty products and had many loyal customers over the years. She had a real flair for fashion and jewellery.
She loved gardening, as well as hunting and fishing with her husband, Gordon. One prized possession was the 25-lb salmon she caught and had mounted in their home.
Most notable was their love of all things golf, having a membership at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club for many years, where they had a close-knit group of friends. One fond memory was when they dressed up for a themed golf tournament, with Gordon portraying a pregnant bride in full wedding dress and Lorraine dressed as the disgruntled father of the bride, toy shotgun and all.
Later in life, she enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and knitting, including making hats and mittens for the homeless.
After retirement, Lorraine and Gord spent many happy winters in Indio, California, where they would golf every day – sometimes 36 holes in a day! They made a great group of friends who they looked forward to seeing every year.
After she was widowed, she was able to continue her love of travel by joining a tour bus company owned by a friend. As bus hostess, she would make sure all the guests were happy and accounted for and in the right place at the right time. This afforded her the ability to experience many areas of the country and northern states. She regaled us with stories of her time at the Dakota State Fair in Minot, North Dakota, as well as seeing polar bears near the Hudson Bay! Lorraine had an intense interest in the history of Alberta and made many trips throughout the province with the bus company. She also made several trips to Hawaii to visit her daughter, Michelle.
Lorraine passed away at Northcott Care Centre in Ponoka, AB on October 4, 2025, at the age of 89, having lived a long, full life.
In this DropBox folder, you can find a story Lorraine wrote about her mother, Gladys (Wesley) Nottingham, her family history, their ancestors’ immigration, and the adventures and struggles they faced in Alberta in the early 1900s. The history of Lorraine’s father, Ernest, and her grandfather, Charles Wesley, are also in this collection:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5sw58mw7rol50cb9ei7pj/ABxErqajnNEAJyBDezGeC4Q?rlkey=orry5dccvrwm6domxm8q1grtl&st=iunqcj13&dl=0

• Date : 2025-10-04
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home