Lorraine Nichols

Lorraine Nichols, 93, of the Cumberland and Creston areas, died Saturday, April 6, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at First Baptist Church in Creston with a luncheon immediately following the service at the church. Burial will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Reno Methodist Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission, PO Box 355, Springfield, IL 62705. Include a note stating "Lorraine Nichols Memorial" and make checks payable to BGFM, or electronically at www.bgfmission.com and clicking the "memorial" button. Steen Funeral Home, 205 W. Fifth St., in Massena is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com.

Lorraine Dorothy Nichols, daughter of Gustav and Hannah (Reichhold) LeGrand, was born Sept. 27, 1925, at Willow Springs, Illinois. In 1947, she enrolled at Midwest Bible and Missionary Institute, now Calvary University, in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1949, she married Kendle M. Nichols. Lorraine graduated in 1950 and Kendle in 1952. Afterwards, they served with the Northern Gospel Mission in Orr, Minnesota, for four years. They traveled to serve in Brazil.

In 1956, they came to Iowa while on deputation for Brazil under the Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission. Lorraine was a member of Roberts Road Bible Church, founded by her father. It became their sending church for 36 years in Brazil. Upon retirement, they regularly attended First Baptist Church in Creston. Her ministry continued with shut-ins, hospitals, care centers and homes.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Bruce (LeeAnn) of Salvador, Brazil, Cheryl (Steve) Crady of Oxford, Mississippi, Timothy of Cruz, Brazil, Carol (Richard) Schilling of Kansas City, Missouri, Jonathan (Chima) of Overland Park, Kansas, and Dawn (Peter) Giles of Holland, Michigan; 30 grandchildren; 68 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Kendle Nichols; sister Violet LeGrand; brothers, Elmore, Clifford and Gus LeGrand; sisters-in-law, Lorraine, Emma and Ruth LeGrand and Carol Johnson; mother- and father-in-law, James and Erma Nichols; brothers-in-law, James Jr. and Charles Nichols; son-in-law Charles Yow; granddaughters, Hope Nichols and Elizabeth Giles; and three grandchildren who died before birth.