Lorena I. Pate, 96, was born Oct. 14, 1923, in a farmhouse in Jewell County, to Sarah (Gilbert) and George Walker. She died this life on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Sun Porch of Smith Center in Smith Center.

Lorena received her formal education and graduated from the Mankato High School in 1941. She was united in marriage with Neil Pate on April 1, 1950. They made their home on the farm south of Esbon. This union was blessed with five children, Eldon, Terry, Michael, Greg and Nancy. Lorena lost Neil in 1962, due to an accident on the farm. She continued to live on the farm another five years and then moved into Esbon. She worked several years at the cafe, she was a cook at the school in Esbon and purchased the cafe and operated it for several years. Lorena sold the cafe in 1998, and in 1999, moved to Hays where she worked for First Call for Help and the Sternberg Museum. As her health began to fail, she moved to SunPorch in Smith Center in 2018.

Lorena was a hard worker and a great cook. She had many roadblocks in her life but her family was the highlight of her life.

Preceding her in death were her parents; four brothers; her husband, Neil, and a grandson, Neil Russell Pate.

She is survived by her children, Eldon (Delilah); Terry (Joan); Michael of Esbon; Greg (Michaela), Lucas; Nancy (friend, Curt) of Hays; her grandchildren, Jennifer (Kyle) Clark, Ryan

Pate (Kendra), Kristi (Bryce) Haverkamp, Elisha (Jim) Bolte, Ericia

(Emerson) Prothro, Kasha (Josh) Alcorn, Justin Pate, Nicole Brown, Stehanie Pate, Sarah (Ryan) Brown, Patrick (Ashley) Bergman, Rachel (Albert) Kraus; along with 23 greagrandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Her funeral was Monday, Feb. 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon with Fr. David Michael officiating. Interment was at the Esbon Cemetery.