Lorraine Francis (Steinbach) Kuykendall, of Richland, Washington, passed away peacefully during Holy Week at 100 years of age while residing at Guardian Angel Homes, on March 26, 2024. Her eldest son, Leland, was with her when she passed.

Lorraine (Rainy) was born on January 25, 1924, to Frank and Mary (Weber) Steinbach, in Belgrade Township, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her 3 sisters, 5 brothers and her grandson Chauncy Kuykendall (Dan and Laura’s Son).

Lorraine was 5th of 9 children and grew up in New Ulm, graduating from New Ulm High school in1941. She married her high school beau, Albert (Al-Bucky) Kuykendall on May 25th, 1945, at San Buenaventura CA when he was on leave from the U.S. Navy.

She and Al moved to Richland in 1947 where they stayed with friends until they purchased a home in West Richland in 1951. They owned that home until 2003, raising their 4 children. The family moved to California and later to Alaska where the entire family lived for several years working on the Alaska Oil Pipeline.

She was very involved in all the kids’ activities including Little League and Pony League baseball, wrestling, ballet/dancing, and was Cub Scout Den Mother for the boys. Lorraine was well known for her “Yes” answer to family activities and travel and always up for an adventure no matter where it might be.

After the kids were in school, Lorraine worked at the Desert Inn Hotel in Richland as the banquet supervisor. She continued her education at Columbia Basin College and the Tax Corporation of America, completing courses in accounting and tax preparation. She was the family accountant for two family partnerships and completed tax returns for all. She loved numbers and almost to the end she could win in Yahtzee. She was a lifelong Solitaire and Pinochle player teaching all of her children and grands how to play. She was a marvelous cook with one of her specialties being fruit and berry pies and carrot cake. Her favorite to eat was Angel Food cake and a hot water chaser. She was also a tournament champion bowler and traveled to Reno in 2000 and kept rolling the ball into her early 90’s.

Lorraine was a ferociously devoted and caring mother, wife, grandmother and great grandmother. She always said my house may not be pristine but time with family comes first and always willing to set more plates for friends and family that might stop by. The family enjoyed spending time together camping, fishing, traveling, poking fun at one another, Polka dancing, and many adventurous trips around the U.S. Al and Lorraine spent several months on a U.S. tour in their motor home in 1992 covering most of the states in the country. She traveled on several Mission Trips with daughter Ellen and family to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and also to Albania setting the work ethic and serving others. One of her favorite adventures was a tour to Viet Nam with Christ the King church members in 2011.

She never learned to swim but made sure all her children were comfortable in the water. She drove until she was 92 and lived a robust single life for 27 years after Al died. She never said no to an adventure, never drank, rarely swore (until dementia), was content with life and didn’t believe in stumbling blocks. Just get it done. She didn’t envy others but loved all she was given in a simple satisfied manner. Her vim and vigor were admired by many. She could be a firecracker but had a knack of leading others without them realizing they were happily following.

Lorraine’s husband Al passed away after 52 years of marriage so she sold the West Richland home and purchased her Shasta Street house in north Richland. She stayed there until 2019 when she moved into the assisted living facility at Guardian Angel Homes in Richland. Lorraine was cared for by the staff at Guardian Angel for nearly 5 years and the family is very grateful for the care she received at Guardian Angel.

Lorraine was a devoted member of Christ the King Catholic church in Richland for over 70 years, she was the spiritual leader of her family. It was the basis of her life and the comfort it brought her made an impact on everyone she met. She was not a complainer and she consistently depended on Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

She is survived by 4 children (Leland and wife Marsha, Ellen and husband David, Dennis and wife Patty, and Dan and wife Laura), her Brother in Law (Ted Kuykendall and wife Marge), and Lorraine was God Mother to Niece Vicki Svieven and Al Bickner). She is also survived by 8 Grandchildren, 19 Great Grandchildren, and 4 Great Great Grandchildren.

To honor her beliefs, a full mass is planned for May 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Church, Richland, WA. A reception will be held at the Church following the service in the fellowship hall. Please join us if you are able.

A family gathering will be held at the gravesite at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.