Lauretta Leona Orr

Lauretta Leona Orr (Nelson) was called Home to be with her Lord and Savior peacefully in her slumber on April 29, 2020 at the age of 77. Lauretta was one of 9 children born to Paul and Beatrice Nelson on December 30 ^th , 1942. She lived out the days of her youth in Wayzata. Minnesota, where her love of horses began. She attended Wayzata schools and graduated in the Class of 1961. She held the title of State Championship in Fencing in 1959-60.

Lauretta’s journey in life was not always easy, but what carried her through the rough times was her resilience, compassion and acceptance for others, her kind-hearted disposition, and her unwavering devotion to her faith. All the struggles led her to the love of her life and best friend, Lawrence “Larry” Orr. They fell in love, were married on May 28 ^th , 1981, and lived the real life, “ Yours, Mine, and Ours ” blended family. They were blessed with a union in marriage a month shy of 39 years. Larry remained by Lauretta’s side when she received the diagnosis with Alzheimer’s in May of 2006- “ through sickness and health .” She loved him with all her heart and although she could not communicate well the last few years; you could feel their love every time you were in their presence. We could not have asked for a better companion for Lauretta.

Lauretta was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Beatrice Nelson, her siblings Jeanne Cockrell, Geraldine Walter, Douglas Nelson and her grandsons Jacob Rawson and Nikolaus Schechter. She was survived by her husband Lawrence “Larry” Orr and children: Wanda (Terry) Rawson, Brenda (Kirk) Johnson, Todd (Joyce) Bourassa, Tina Bourassa, Laura (Josh) Acker, Linda (Bryce) Gessner, Mary (Tom) Orr, Joe Orr, Monica (Stan) Schechter, Michelle (Alan) Orr, and Mike Orr. Her grandchildren: Zachary (Suzanne) Rawson, Brittany (Joe) Haeg, Megan (Dylan) Rawson, Aaron Rawson, Sarah (Ethan) Johnson, Ruth Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Piper Bourassa, Julia Bourassa, Miles Bourassa, Silas Acker, Micah Acker, Rainer Acker, Otto Gessner, Gwendolyn Gessner, Makaila Orr, Andrew Schechter, Alex Schechter, and Madie Schechter. Her great-grandchildren: Athena Tabor, Sydney Rawson, Juliette Rawson, Owen Haeg, Eleanor Haeg, and David Haeg. Her siblings: Carmen Brummer, Dallas (Edward) Gale, Andrea Nelson, Valerie (Earling) Loftus and Russell (Mary) Nelson and a great many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private funeral will be held on Saturday May 2 ^nd , 2020 at 11AM at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in North Minneapolis. We invite all our family and friends to join us virtually LIVE (link will be available at the Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapel website). We also invite our family and friends to join us in a  Drive By Outdoors Visitation, in the spirit of “social distancing”, along Emerson Ave N at St. Bridget’s Church directly following the funeral service to pay your respects to Lauretta and family (more details to follow). A celebration of Lauretta’s life will be arranged for a later date.  In lieu of memorials/flowers the family asks that donations to be made in Lauretta’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org) to further research for a cure to this devastating disease.