Mass of Christian Burial for Lori Fruin, 63, of Cottonwood, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cottonwood. Visitation will be Friday, October 4, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cottonwood. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Lori died on Saturday, September 28, 2024, under hospice care and surrounded by family at her residence in Cottonwood, MN.
Lori Kay (Lewis) Fruin was born on November 23, 1960, in Rapid City, SD. As a young child, she moved with her family to Cottonwood where she grew up and attended school. Lori graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1979. On November 27, 1982, she was united in marriage to Timothy “Tim” Fruin at Christ Lutheran Church. The couple made their home and raised their family in Cottonwood. Lori had a long and successful career in school food service. She started in Cottonwood, then worked in Tracy, then in Marshall where she was the Food Service Director for Taher, Inc. that serves Marshall Public Schools. Lori was married to the love of her life, Tim for almost four decades. The love they had for each other was rare, and it was the foundation around which they built a family and a life together. Lori and Tim shared many adventures including travels to WeFest, Mardi Gras, and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the Giant Redwoods of California. When they welcomed Katie and Cody, they were partners in parenthood. There was nothing more important to Lori than her family and friends. Her greatest joy was in the simple pleasures of cooking for her family, attending children and grandchildren’s ball games and concerts, or sitting on the deck watching them play. She was an incredibly warm and loving mother, grandmother, auntie, sister, and friend, and it was felt in every interaction with her. Lori loved the outdoors, especially camping with the “Pop-up Club.” She enjoyed playing bean bags and was affectionately known as “Mama Louie.” She was often heard listening to her favorite song, “Mr. Bo Jangles.” Lori was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. During her battle, she never lost her positive attitude and contagious smile. She continued to draw strength and joy from her family and gave them comfort in her last moments. Her life is a lesson to us all about how to love intensely, live courageously and lead with kindness and compassion for all. She will be profoundly missed.
Lori died on Saturday, September 28, 2024, under hospice care and surrounded by family at her
residence in Cottonwood, MN. She is survived by her children Katie Fruin (Jordan Persons) of Cottonwood, Cody (and Hayley) Fruin of Cottonwood; Step Father Ordell (and Betty Lynn) Akre of St. Joseph, MS; grandchildren Jocelyn, Jett, Juliana, Weston, Graham and Mauer; siblings Jeff (and Vickey) Lewis of Granite Falls and Todd (and Candace) Lewis of Andover; in-laws Peg Fruin of Cottonwood, Pat (and Sean) Carmody of Marshall and Kathy Lazo of Richfield; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Tim.
