Loraine Teninga Plasman

Plasman, Loraine Teninga passed peacefully in her sleep early in the morning on November 25. She led a happy and fruitful life. Born in Chicago in 1923, she graduated from high school when she was 16 and set off to attend Wells College in Aurora, New York. However, in the war years, there was a need for women to enter the work force. Loraine was one of the exceptional young women who qualified for the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Engineering Cadettes program at the University of Minnesota. Upon completion, she became an engineering draftsperson, working on the Hell Diver bomber at the Curtiss-Wright plant in Columbus, Ohio. After the war, she completed her college education, receiving a degree from the University of Michigan. It was after this that she met her future husband, Steve Plasman, on a blind date set up by her sister, Francis, and Steve's sister, Connie. They married in 1948 and had three children in the next 6 years, Jim (Kathy Stratte), Barb (Peter Rogers), and Peg (Greg Mosier.) Loraine was an excellent pianist and good athlete as a swimmer and tennis player. While her children carried on her athletic prowess, only Peg pursued music and is a gifted French Horn player. One of Loraine's strengths was her talent for numbers and her attention to detail which served her well through her life, not only in the Curtiss-Wright engineering program but later managing the financial affairs of her husband's marketing research business. Loraine and Steve were blessed with a loving and truly marvelous marriage, centered on their shared faith. They both were devout Presbyterians and their church life at Edina's Christ Presbyterian Church played a large part in their lives. They also loved to travel, taking the family on numerous trips, many to visit family in Chicago, but also to Florida and Wyoming. Once the children had gone on to college, Loraine and Steve enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Hong Kong, Europe, and Thailand. They also visited their son Jim and his family in Alaska and later the Marshall Islands. Other areas of interest were outings with long time neighborhood friends, Women's League of Voters, bridge club and a frequent run to the golf course to play 9 holes with the local women's golf league. If there was a party to be had, she'd be the first to hostess! She loved entertaining. There were many holiday meals where the family gathered and were treated to a 5-star meal made with love. Her homemade hot chocolate fudge sauce, tasty oatmeal cookies and crispy ginger cookies were some of the best in town! She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Loraine was interred at the Christ Presbyterian Church Memorial Prayer Garden, next to her beloved husband Steve. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wells College, wells.edu/… Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996