Tri-County News

Gregory is grand marshal


Lorraine Gregory of Pearl Lake is this year’s Kimball grand marshal. She served as librarian for 22 years in Kimball. Staff photo by Jean Doran Matua.

By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
The Kimball Library has been part of the Great River Regional Library system for 50 years now, and Lorraine Gregory was a big part of that early on. You might say she was the “accidental librarian” in Kimball, agreeing to fill in for her neighbor as librarian for a summer, then permanent librarian when the neighbor decided not to come back.
Lorraine was librarian for 22 years, helping readers of all ages find good books to read. An avid reader herself, she loves sharing the passion of reading.
Lorraine grew up in St. Cloud, an only child, in the house her grandfather had built. Her parents used to drop her off at the St. Cloud Library while they went on to the Red Owl to shop for groceries. She graduated from Tech High School, and then from business college. She worked for NSP before becoming the Kimball librarian.
Lorraine married Paul Gregory of Pearl Lake and that’s where they made their home. They farmed there, and Paul also worked at Theisen Building & Supply. They raised three children there: Rick, Marilyn, and Ron. Rick died at age 21 in an accident on the farm, and Marilyn died last month of cancer.
Lorraine now lives in an apartment in Waite Park, where she has plenty of activities and company. “She can smoke you in any game of cards,” says granddaughter Jacki.
“I’m just so happy that Kimball is getting a new library,” says Lorraine who will be a guest of honor at the groundbreaking Sunday afternoon (see page 2). “I’ve seen so many kids grow up through the library. And people were always good to me.”
“Libraries are important!” she says.

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