The margin of the victory should have been much greater as the Light Blues passed up a boxful of clear-cut chances, particularly in the second half.
Nevertheless, only one match – Dundee at home on Thursday – remains before the winter break and Alex McLeish will be delighted to have gathered a one-point lead at the top of the league following three difficult away games in succession.
Kilmarnock had gone into the match full of confidence on the back of a five-game unbeaten run and both sides probed cagily at each other during some early bouts of gentle sparring.
Rangers, boosted by the return of Shota Arveladze and Mo Ross, had the lion’s share of the possession as Alex McLeish tried out an attack-minded 4-2-4 formation that had Bob Malcolm and Barry Ferguson scurrying about covering a lot of ground in midfield.
Despite their superiority, chances were at a premium for the Light Blues with Arveladze’s header on goal from Ferguson’s in-swinging free kick one of few note-worthy chances in the opening minutes.
Rare attacking flurries from Kilmarnock were usually on the counter attack and Stefan Klos was brave to save at the feet of James Fowler – taking a set of studs in the chest for his troubles – before only a last-gap intervention from Craig Moore stopped Andy McLaren from running in on goal.
With neither side seemingly able to carve out an opening, it took a moment of genius to break the deadlock in the 24th minute.
Ronald de Boer’s majestic swerving 40-yard cross-field pass fell invitingly into the path of the on-rushing Lovenkrands and the Dane galloped in on goal before crashing a left-foot shot past Gordon Marshall at his near post.
Considering their recent good form it was perhaps surprising that the home side were not more positive in their approach to the game as Rangers coasted to a one-goal half-time lead.
Kilmarnock brought on pacy striker Craig Dargo for midfielder Ally Mitchell during the break to try to address that issue and the move almost paid off after only four minutes.
McLaren fed the former Raith striker with a precise pass and his powerful drive was batted away by Klos.
Former Ger Gary McSwegan had been largely anonymous throughout the match but he almost made a lasting impression when his 30-yard strike crashed off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Rangers launched the perfect riposte and had two chances in quick succession to double their lead.
De Boer slalomed through the Killie defence and chipped across goal for Lovenkrands whose left-footed effort was well blocked by Marshall.
A minute later, it was Ferguson who was the creator as he made for the byline and crossed for Michael Mols whose glancing header drifted across the face of the goal.
With Kilmarnock looking more threatening, Lovenkrands angled a pass out to de Boer who set up Claudio Caniggia, on for the injured Shota Arveladze.
The Argentinean cut inside but his clipped shot drifted agonisingly wide of the far post before setting up de Boer who astonishingly headed over the crossbar from about five yards out.
Minutes later the same pairing combined again, with the Dutchman heading straight into the hands of Marshall.
Rangers continued to spurn great opportunities and Lorenzo Amoruso stormed through the middle of the park to set up Mols who sliced a shot well wide.
Despite the series of misses, the one-goal lead was enough to give the Light Blues the three points to round off a successful year.
KILMARNOCK: Marshall; Shields, Innes, Canero, Fowler, McLaren, Fulton, Mahood, Mitchell(Dargo 45), Dillon, McSwegan(Boyd 66)
Subs not used: Meldrum, Dindeleux, Hay
Booked: Innes (42), McLaren (75)
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Moore, Amoruso, Muscat; Malcolm, Ferguson(c), de Boer; Arveladze(Caniggia 51), Mols, Lovenkrands.
Subs not used: McGregor, Nerlinger, Latapy, MacLean
Booked: Moore (73)
Referee: Dougie McDonald
Attendance: 13,396
Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson