Lois

Ryan and I said goodbye to his Grandma this week. We were able to say our goodbyes over the phone as we were not able to make it up to the hospital Thursday night. We will miss her but will cherish the memories we have.

July 2006 ~ Me, Lois and Ryan at our house in Baton Rouge

LOIS AUDREY THORSON was born on May 7, 1924 to Irving and Mary (Klees) Strassburg at the family’s home in Hardwick, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Luverne, Minnesota. She attended grade school in Hardwick and graduated from Edgerton Public High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. Following school, she worked as a housekeeper and took care of various families in the area. Lois was united in marriage to Wallace Thorson on July 12, 1943 in Luverne. She then became a member of Blue Mound Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and active in Ladies Aid. The couple made their home on his parents’ farm just east of Hardwick. She helped on the farm and was a homemaker to their four children. She later worked at the Blue Mound Inn. Following Wallace’s death on August 29, 2005, Lois moved into Luverne and enjoyed keeping an active social life with her girlfriends. She moved to the Good Samaritan Society - Mary Jane Brown Home on December 31, 2012. On Friday, January 25, 2013 Lois died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Sanford Luverne Hospital at the age of 88 years, 8 months, and 18 days.

Lois was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne where she belonged to GLCW. She was a member of the Red Hat Club and enjoyed volunteering in the community, including at the Hinkley House. She was an avid reader and enjoyed craft work, spending time on the computer, and taking many short family vacations. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lois is lovingly remembered by her children, Kieth Thorson and his wife Pauline of Hardwick, Stephen Thorson and his wife Renee of Austin, Minnesota, and Christie Heitman of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eight grandchildren, Timothy, Matthew, Kari, Bryan, Amy, Jason, Cory and Ryan; eight great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Robert Sprengeler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and her sisters-in-law, Delores Strassburg and Gerry Strassburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace; daughter, Cathy Sprengeler; grandson, Travis Thorson; and her siblings, Darrell Strassburg, Clifford Strassburg, Naomi Strassburg, and Elaine Clark.

Lois and Ryan on our wedding day.

 ~Ashley