Lorraine Moore, 97

On June 26, 1920, in Omaha, Neb., Lorraine Fregger was born to Jacob and Sophie Fregger, and older brother Norman Fregger. As a young girl, Lorraine would ride a streetcar and began taking private singing lessons from Madame Bouvier.

She was part of the prestigious chorale group at Central High School, in Omaha. She even sang on live radio shows while still in her teens!

Lorraine was just a preteen when she met the love of her life, her future husband, Julius Kaplan, at her father’s drugstore where he worked as a soda jerk while going to pharmaceutical school at Creighton University. Julius would make up special fountain drinks with creative names and her favorite flavors just for the young impressionable girl. Lorraine was just crazy about this eight-years-older college boy and just knew she wanted to marry him. She couldn’t wait to grow up and catch his eye and that is just what happened! This young girl grew into a 5’7” stunning young lady with movie-star looks and the rest is history! He sent for her to come out to Los Angeles, Calif., where she lived with her cousin while they dated, and he introduced her to big city life. They were married at The Blackstone Hotel, in Omaha, Neb., on March 31, 1940.

They made their home in San Pedro, Calif., where Julius had his drug store for 35 years. They had two daughters, Susan Jo and Jessica Anne. Lorraine was the perfect housewife and mother who prided herself in always dressing she and her daughters in the latest fashions, keeping a perfect home and cooking delicious meals for her family. She loved being the PTA mom with the perfectly decorated cupcakes! Lorraine and Julius were married 31 years when he passed in 1970.

Lorraine decided to fulfill a promise to her late husband and pursued a career in radio broadcasting, a longtime passion of hers. She attended radio broadcasting school in Hollywood, Calif., in 1970, and upon completion of the course she began her broadcasting career at Station KFLI in Mountain Home, Idaho, in 1971.

In 1972, she began working at Station KAIN Radio, selling commercial time while driving around town in her British racing green Jensen-Healey, with KAIN license plates, dressed like the fashionista she always was. Soon after, she met Boise’s television and radio news director Vern Moore. They were married Aug. 17, 1974. And what a power couple they were! Everyone knew Lorraine and Vern and wanted to spend time with them. Lorraine began working for Channel 6 Television in Boise and hosted her own weekly show interviewing guests on current events in the Boise area.

Vern and Lorraine later moved to Hayden, Idaho, to be near her daughter and son-in-law. They were married for 37 years until his passing in 2011.

Lorraine was a superhero, literally reinventing herself after Julius died, becoming a media star in both radio and television. It was her challenge to her nephew, Stephan Fregger, that prompted him to research and publish a book on the Fregger and Fox (of F&F Cough Drops) families’ genealogy dating from 1822 to 1997.

The final chapter of Lorraine’s incredible life began in July of 2011 when she moved to Northstar Retirement Living in Coeur d’Alene. There she made countless friends and soon became “The Bingo Queen,” playing two or three times weekly. Everyone recognized her as the classy lady who was always impeccably dressed with her red lipstick and beautiful smile. She loved her home at Northstar and the extraordinary care that was given to her and everyone; residents and staff adored her.

After her amazing 97 years, she was preceded in death by everybody! Preceding her are her parents, Jacob and Sophie; brother Norman Fregger; late husband Julius; later husband Vern and her boyfriend at Northstar Living, David Zenk.

Lorraine is survived by daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Richard Shedd, of Coeur d’Alene; daughter and son-in-law Susie and Jeff Wallach, of Beverly Hills, Calif.; “adopted” daughter and bingo partner Ingrid Thomson; granddaughter Marisa Lederman, of Beverly Hills; granddaughter Jordana Mansbacher of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandson Justin Burrow, of Westlake Village, Calif.; three great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

In closing, as Lorraine would always say at the end of her broadcasts, “Goodbye for now. Until next time, I’m off the air.”