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Lorraine 'The Bronco Lady' Kammerer

9/17/1935 - 2/20/2014

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Obituary For Lorraine 'The Bronco Lady' Kammerer

Lorraine “The Bronco Lady” Kammerer, 79, of Rapid City passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at the Regional Hospital Hospice House. Lorraine was born September 17, 1935 to J. F (Fritz Kammerer) and Kathryn McNenny Kammerer. She was raised on the homestead ranch located on Dry Creek, about two miles south of Elk Creek. Lorraine was the youngest of five. Growing up, she attended a rural school, helped on the ranch and belonged to the local 4-H Club. Lorraine graduated from Rapid City High School in 1953 and went on to college at Black Hills Teachers College. After graduating from Black Hills Teachers College, Lorraine taught in Midwest and Sheridan, Wyoming for four years. She traveled abroad where she met her ex-husband, the late Tom Bombinski, and they were married. The young couple lived in Lead and Spearfish for a few years. Upon the death of Lorraine’s oldest sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Clarence Roth, Lorraine and Tom agreed to raise their youngest four of their five children as the eldest, Patsy, was of age. The couple and kids moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for a few years where Lorraine was a stay-at-home caregiver. After moving back to South Dakota, the family moved from Faith to Rapid City. There, Tom and Lorraine divorced. Lorraine then moved to Spearfish with the three remaining Roth children to go back to school. Later, Lorraine moved to Rapid City and worked in appliance sales for the next 20 years. In 1978, Lorraine moved to Denver, Colorado and worked as an appliance sales person. She could sell anything to anyone! It was in Denver that she became an avid Denver Broncos fanatic. Although she never attended a game, she always dressed the part dowding her white cowboy hat, bright orange blazer, navy dress pants and cowboy boots. After she retired from sales, she moved back to Rapid City to be closer to her parents. It was in Rapid City where she became known as “The Bronco Lady.” Lorraine was an avid Bronco fanatic who had many collections of the football team including a life-size cutout of her all time favorite player, John Elway. Although some of her family would not admit knowing her in public when she was dressed in her Bronco fashion, she always believed in family and that family came first. Lorraine struggled in the last ten years with her health and finding out less than six months ago she had cancer. Lorraine is survived by her nieces and nephews she raised, Patsy (Pete) Richardson, San Diego, Michael Roth and Jerry Roth, Belle Fourche, Jean (Jim) Smeenk, Newell, and Deb (Bob) Reynolds, Rapid City; her sister Pauline Guffey, Rapid City; and several nieces and nephews scattered throughout the United States; and the RC High School Class of 1953. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Kathryn, brother Alfred (Lefty), sisters Patricia Roth and Lianne Bachand.

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