Loraine Tolman Pace

“Who will be my peacemaker?” Beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Loraine Tolman Pace, age 82, peacefully passed away on November 22, 2025, in the presence of loved ones.

Loraine was born on May 15, 1943 in Pocatello, Idaho, to William Odell Tolman and Opal Adams. She was the fourth of seven children. She enjoyed the lively company of her siblings- Shirlene, John, Janice, Darrel, Michael, and Loretta, and cherished the close-knit bond she shared with them and her parents throughout her life.

From the time she was a small child- and throughout most of her adulthood- Loraine eagerly looked forward to the annual Tolman reunion, which was a three-day event. It was a cherished tradition where she strengthened meaningful connections with her Aunts and Uncles, and formed lasting friendships with her beloved cousins- creating memories that she treasured all her life.

During Loraine’s high school years, she served as class and student body officer, newspaper editor, yearbook copy editor, and a member of the debate team. She was a member of the National Honor Society and an Honor graduate. She received the American Legion Award and scholarships to the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. She graduated from Bountiful High School.

She pursued her college education- off and on thru the years- hoping to receive a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Family Life. However, life’s responsibilities and priorities ultimately prevented her from graduating- by only a few credits. Nevertheless, she certainly earned and deserved that degree.

Loraine met the love of her life, Alfred Lawrence Pace, III (Buddy) at a young adult activity in the summer of 1962. They were married the following Spring, on May 31, 1963, in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple. At the time of Buddy’s passing, they had been married for 57 years. Their marriage was a true partnership, one marked by deep devotion, mutual respect, and a love that many admired. Loraine was a constant source of encouragement and strength to Buddy as he pursued his education and career. Together they raised six children: Lawrence, Elese, Michele, William, Andrew, and Wendell. Loraine embraced her role as a stay-at-home mother with patience, creativity, love, and always hugs and kisses. She penned the poem “God talks to children, this I know, for with my children it is so. How else could infant souls teach me so much about eternity?” which was published in the Ensign magazine. In 1991, she was nominated for Mother of the Year by the Utah Association of American Mothers.

Because of the nature of Buddy’s career as a Seminary and Institute teacher with the Church Education System, the family moved frequently and lived in many places over the years, including Provo and Bountiful, Utah; Pocatello, Paul, and Jerome, Idaho; Pullman and Yakima, Washington. In January 1979, they relocated to Logan, Utah, where they remained until July of that year before moving to Israel for six months, where they served as the faculty directors for the BYU Study Abroad Program and taught courses at Kibbutz Ramat Rachael. When their assignment concluded, they returned to Logan, Utah, where they established their forever home. They returned to Israel in the summer of 1988 for an additional semester with the BYU Study Abroad Program and taught courses at the BYU Jerusalem Center. Through every transition, Loraine met each move with resilience and grace, creating warmth and stability for her family wherever they lived.

Loraine and Buddy were gifted travel guides, leading numerous tours around the world to destinations including Syria, Jordan, Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, China, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, as well as American and Church History sites. In 1987, they took their children on an unforgettable 8,000-mile car trip, traveling coast to coast across the United States. One of the family’s most treasured memories was the opportunity to join Loraine and Buddy on a tour they led in 2007 to Israel and Egypt, a trip shared with their children, daughters- and sons-in-law, two grandsons, and a granddaughter. These experiences were a testament to Loraine’s love of adventure, her passion for learning, and her joy in spending time with family.

Loraine was a natural mentor and played an instrumental role in the lives of many young adults throughout the years, especially serving at Buddy’s side at the Yakima and Logan Institutes of Religion and on BYU Semesters Abroad. She opened her home- and her heart- to countless individuals, offering guidance, compassion, and a sense of belonging. She had a particular fondness for Steve Berner, Alan Larson, and Marvin Higbee, whom she regarded as her own.

Loraine was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. She had a firm testimony of the gospel and of God’s unconditional love for His children. Loraine taught her children the principles of the gospel both through her words and by her example. She was a devoted ministering sister, always willing to serve. On one occasion, she fell on the ice and broke her arm just before a visit with one of her ward sisters. Despite being in considerable pain, she kept her appointment and visited with that sweet sister, demonstrating her selflessness and commitment to her calling. She served faithfully in numerous church callings, including family history consultant, gospel doctrine teacher, Primary teacher, Young Women’s president, Relief Society president, and Stake Relief Society president. Of all her callings, her favorite was serving as a gospel doctrine teacher. Loraine cherished reading the scriptures daily with her husband, and after his passing, she continued this tradition faithfully, reading every day with her son, Lawrence.

Loraine was a gifted seamstress, crafting many of her own clothes as well as those for her children. She had a deep passion for quilting, hand stitching, and embroidery, and her careful artistry was evident in every piece she created. Over the years, she made countless quilts for her children and grandchildren, as well as blessing outfits, dresses, and even wedding gowns. Loraine also amassed extensive collections of thimbles and nativity sets, each one a reflection of her appreciation for fine workmanship, tradition, and beauty.

Loraine devoted much of her life to service- both publicly and privately.

She helped in schools, organized and supervised fund drives, and donated blood often. She was a tireless champion of home, family, and children. She volunteered extensively with the Utah Division of Family Services, where she assisted with the Homemaking Program for the Elderly, Foster Care Supervision, Teens in Trouble, Adult Abuse Care, and Child Protective Services. This led to her appointment as the first Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem in Cache County – an advocate who represented the best interests of children in court proceedings, such as custody disputes and cases involving abuse and neglect. She then played a major role in training other volunteers and graduated nineteen more Guardian Ad Litems.

Her political service began as a Voter Registration Agent in her own home and continued with roles as an Election Judge, County and State Delegate, Voting District Vice Chairman and Chairman, and Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Cache County Republican Party. She went on to serve as Vice Chairman of the Utah State Republican Party and spent eight years as a Legislator in the Utah House of Representatives. During her time in this office, Loraine visited every county in the state to better understand and address the needs of Utah’s citizens. She was also an advocate for Utah State University and other campuses across the State. One of her proudest accomplishments was championing the introduction of higher education programs within the Utah’s prison system, an initiative that helped many inmates better their lives through education.

Loraine dedicated countless hours to genealogy and to preserving the histories of many of her ancestors. As a teenager, she travelled the country with her father as he lectured and taught at genealogy conferences; and while living in Washington, she taught Genealogy courses at Yakima Valley College and was Vice President of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society. Following in the footsteps of her father, she served as the Family Genealogist of The Thomas Tolman Family Genealogy Center in Bountiful, Utah for many years. A skilled and meticulous genealogist, she approached her work with passion and deep reverence for those who came before her. Her research, temple work, and the family histories she compiled have become treasured legacies that will bless generations to come.

Family time was deeply important to Loraine. Her family will always cherish memories of camping, cookouts in Logan Canyon, reunions at Bear Lake and in Idaho, road trips across Utah, tea parties with her grandchildren, trips to Gardner Village, visiting Buddy’s grave, and girls-only shopping days, followed by lunch together. The family also fondly recalls dinners at the park, visits to the Logan Zoo, the fireworks for the 4th of July at USU, large meals shared in the Pace family backyard and basement, and the fun of the white elephant gift exchanges on Christmas Eve. We will forever treasure memories of her presence at baby blessings, baptisms, and special gatherings.

Loraine had a special way of showing love and care for each family member. She made it a point to visit loved ones after the birth of new babies, often presenting the newest family member with a hand-sewn blanket or quilt. She never missed a birthday, always sending a thoughtful card with money enclosed, making each person feel loved and valued. We will miss her radiant smile, her warm hugs, and the boundless love she gave so freely. We love you Mom and Grandma.

Loraine is preceded in death by her devoted husband, parents, and siblings Shirlene, John, Janice (Jon), Darrel (Barbara), and Michael, and by a granddaughter, Brianne.

Loraine is survived by her six children: Lawrence (Shauna), Elese (Wayne) Elwood, Michele (Gordon) Willey, William (Tracy), Andrew (Jennifer), and Wendell (Heather). She is also survived by her 21 Grandchildren: Lyndsie (Caleb), Jesica (Chandler), Jeffrey (Trisha), Wayne (Dalton), Alyssa (Justin), Jacob (Melanie), Joshua, Hyrum (Johanna), Sadie (Ben), Josie, Caden, Sydney, Shaylee (Noa), Liam, Ethan, Cole, Elliot, Maeve, Lily, Michael, and Logan, as well as 17 great grandchildren. Also surviving are Loraine’s sister Loretta (DeLoy) Thueson, and sister-in-law, Joan, one surviving aunt, Joyce Tolman, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Birch Creek Assisted Living and Atlas Home Health and Hospice for their compassionate care. We are especially grateful to Loraine’s daughter-in-law, Heather, and her granddaughter, Sydney- Loraine’s hospice nurse and home health aide- whose tender, loving care brought her comfort and peace during her final days.

A viewing will be held on Friday, November 28, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS chapel located at 792 N. 500 E., Logan, Utah.

A graveside service will take place on Saturday, November 29, at 11:00 AM at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, Provo, Utah.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.