Lorene Webb, 85 - Hub City Radio

The memorial service for Lorene Webb, 85, of Aberdeen, SD, will be 10:30am, Friday, May 2, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Aberdeen with Ron Parker officiating. Lorene died Friday, April 11, 2025, at her home in Aberdeen.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

Lorene Webb, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and musician, was born on November 27, 1939, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Herbert and Leah (Cunningham) Cowhick of Cresbard. She graduated from Cresbard High School in 1958 and went on to earn a degree in music from Northern State University in 1962. That same year, Lorene married Douglas Lyren of Conde, and from this marriage two children were born: Del Lyren (Betsy) of Golden Valley, MN and Shana (Mike) Tiltrum of Columbus, WI.

Lorene’s family was very precious to her and she treasured her time with her children and granddaughters: Kelsey Tiltrum, Allyson Tiltrum, Natalie Tiltrum, Alexandra Lyren and Nicole (Lyren) Meissner. Early in her grandparenting life, Lorene lovingly became known as “Mema” – a name affectionately given to her by her granddaughter, Alex, at the age of two. In 2016, Lorene and Robert Webb were united in a wonderful marriage. This added two stepchildren, Vince (Gita) Webb and Katherine Webb-Skalsky (Gail) and two step grandchildren, Cassandra and Alexander Webb.

In their nine wonderful years together, Lorene and Robert embraced the joy of everyday life—gardening, cooking, traveling, spending summers at the lake, and most importantly, nurturing the ties of family.

A gifted musician and educator, Lorene shared her passion for music throughout her life. She taught private piano lessons from her home, remembered fondly by her students as a teacher who brought warmth, care, and joy to learning. She later became a band director, first in Cresbard and then at Sisseton High School. She took great pride in her band students; and the kindness, wisdom, and attention that she showered on the students will forever be remembered by them.

Lorene often recalled with pride her performance in 1953 (she was in 7th grade!) of Sugar Blues as a soloist with the Cresbard High School Band at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in front of a standing room only audience. At NSU, she was chosen as the Gypsy Queen of Northern’s homecoming in 1961. After her retirement from teaching, and before she moved to Aberdeen to be with Robert, Lorene treasured her time living on the family farm, caring for the farmhouse where she grew up, and gardening/landscaping. She was also a member of the PEO CY chapter in Aberdeen.

Lorene was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Karolyn. She is survived by her beloved husband Robert, her children and grandchildren, and her sister Cyndy.

In remembrance of Lorene’s lifelong devotion to music and education, memorial contributions may be directed to the Department of Music at Northern State University. Her legacy of kindness, creativity, and unwavering love for family and music lives on in all who knew her.