Donald Thoreson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Donald Eugene Thoreson was born the son of George and Agnes (Beck) Thoreson on April 22, 1924 in rural Barnes County, near Kathryn, ND. He attended Daily School. As a young man, he began farming with his father and brother, Maurice. He developed a lifetime love of all aspects of farming. On July 29, 1945, he married Dorothy Loraine Reberg at the parsonage in Ft. Ransom, ND. They made their home near Nome, ND where they farmed. They raised crops and various livestock throughout the years. Donald was the first in the area to grow sunflowers and was an early adopter of fertilizer. He did custom corn chopping and ran Thoreson trucking for a few years. He retired in 1993, but continued to take daily drives to check crops and was still a permanent fixture at the farm. They moved to Valley City, ND in 2008. Dorothy died on April 29 of that year. He was a member of Waldheim Lutheran Church, Kathryn. He was a 4H Leader of the Eastedge Go-Getters. Donald was a self taught harmonica player. Visitors were always welcomed at the Thoreson home; he and Dorothy shared many meals and countless cups of coffee. Donald died at the Sheyenne Care Center on September 21, 2011. He is survived by his sons, Dale (Linda) of Allison, IA, Chuck (Debbie) of Ft. Ransom, Ron (Jan) of Fingal, ND, Dave (Cindy) of Nome, Marlin (Laura) of Grand Forks, ND, and Jeff (Cindy) of Fingal; daughters, Marge Henry of Eagle-Vail, CO, Marlene (Jeff) Dreier of Elbow Lake, MN, and Julie (Allen) Anderson of Crookston, MN; a daughter-in-law, Judy (Steve) Dick of Lisbon, ND; 24 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren (and one more on the way); a sister, Phyllis (Edmund) Storhoff, Nome; a sister-in-law, Verna Thoreson of Valley City; a brother-in-law, Al Trader of Valley City; and several nieces and nephews.

Donald Thoreson

April 22, 1924 - September 21, 2011