OBITUARY: Howard Ellis Thoresen, 1916-2004, Mitchell Co., Iowa

[Based on obituary in Mitchell County Press-News online; July 21, 2004]
                                          



                       Howard Ellis Thoresen
                    
Funeral services for Howard Ellis Thoresen, age 88, of Osage, Iowa,
were held Thursday, July 22, 2004, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church
in Osage.  Reverend Dennis Hanson and Reverend Roy Ott officiated.
Interment was in the Osage Cemetery.

Howard died Saturday, July 17, 2004 at Osage Rehabilitation and Health
Care Center in Osage, Iowa.

Howard Thoresen was born March 23, 1916 at Kenyon, Minnesota, the son
of Eli and Anna (Brown) Thoresen. He moved with his family to Orchard,
Iowa, in 1924. Howard attended the Orchard Elementary School, Osage
High School, and graduated from Mankato State Business College in
1936. Howard moved to the family farm east of Osage in 1933, where
he was involved in the farming operation until his death.

He was united in marriage to Verna L. Puckett on June 2, 1946 at
Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa.

Howard was a member of the Mitchell County Farm Bureau and was a
past president of that organization. He was also a member of the
Mitchell County and Iowa Cattlemen's Association, and was a 4-H
leader for many years. Howard was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran
Church in Osage, where he was an usher for over 50 years, served
as church treasurer, along with serviing on other boards and committees.

Preceding Howard in death were his parents, one brother, Oliver
Thoresen and one sister, Gladys Thoresen.

Howard is survived by his wife Verna Thoresen of Osage, Iowa;
children: Ann McKinney and her husband Rodney of Doughterty, Iowa;
Mary Cullen of Osage, Iowa; Luther Thoresen and his wife Paula of
Ruthven, Iowa; David Thoresen and his wife Mary of Lake Wales, Florida;
Ruth Ward and her husband Philip of Cedaredge, Colorado, and Paul
Thoresen and his wife Chris of St. Paul, Minnesota; Grandchildren:
Rhonda McKinney, Carol Cullen, Joseph Cullen, Ben Thoresen, Jessica
Thoresen, Alena Thoresen, Priya Thoresen, Shristi Thoresen, Jonathan
Thoresen, Rachel McGruder; great-grandchildren: Cheyenne Cullen
and Cole Dent; one brother, Leonard Thoresen of Osage Iowa; and one
half-brother William Thoresen of Colorado.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, 641-732-3706, Osage was in charge
of arrangements.



          Copyright 2004, K. Kittleson