Lorraine was born in Manning, Iowa, and grew up on the family farm four miles north of Manning. She began her early education at Washington No. 9, Carroll County rural school near her home, and continued her education at the Manning Community High School in Manning, graduating with the class of 1959.

After completing her education, Lorraine was united in marriage to Larry Slechta, August 15, 1959, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. The couple settled in Denison and were blessed with the birth of four children. Lorraine began her employment career in Denison, working at local restaurants including: Cronks Cafe, Highway Café, and the Meat Empire Cafe. She then became employed at the Denison Professional Cleaners where she worked for more than eighteen years. While working at the cleaners for John Schneider, she also baked pies for the Eatmore Cafe in Denison and worked at Hardee's as a shift leader and later as a supervisor.

Lorraine's leisure time activities included several interests: camping, cooking and baking. Crafts, sewing, gardening and fishing also occupied, her free time, as well as horse shows and other sporting events.

She was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother who worked hard to help provide for her family.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her father, and one son, Royce in 1984.
Survivors include, her husband, Larry; three sons, Rick and his fiancee, Therese Behrendt; Ron; Rodney and his fiancee, Jody Rhodes all of Denison; three grandchildren, Jessica, Mollie and Amber; her mother, Amanda Martens of Manning; one sister, Sherril Heller of Audubon; and her brother, Dean Martens and his wife, Judi of Des Moines.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, October 13, 1998, at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Kurt Kaiser officiated the service and grave side rites held at the Oakland Cemetery, Denison, Iowa. Karen Kahl provided the organ accompaniment for congregational hymns "How Great Thou Art," "I'm But a Stranger Here," and "Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound." Those serving as pallbearers were: Scott Hosteng, Robert Mohr Sr., Les McCollum, Steve Ransom, Tom Ransom, and Jared Mohr. The family invited everyone in attendance at the service to join them in fellowship and lunch at the Denison Community Building. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.