Monona County IA Archives Obituaries.....Thoreson, Haldin Cornelius July 20, 1953
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Carolyn Jarvey iandaz@cox.net December 7, 2009, 9:51 pm

Soldier Sentinel
Halden Thoreson Meets Untimely Death   (Contributor’s date:  1953)

	Halden Thoreson, 72, Soldier retired farmer, died suddenly Monday 
morning while helping clean a cistern of the Vanscoy farm at the north edge of 
Moorhead operated by his son, Norman.  He evidently died of a broken neck as 
he fell back into the cistern when he was overcome by fumes from a gas engine 
which had been used to pump the water out of the hole.
	As near as can be learned this is about what happened:  Mr. Thoreson 
and his son had started to clean the large cistern on Sunday and in order to 
make the hose reach to pump the water out a gas engine was suspended part way 
into the hole.  After they were through pumping Norman went into the cistern 
but the gas left by the engine was so bad they quit the job, thinking the gas 
would escape.  On Monday horning(sic), Holden went back to the farm and into 
the cistern to clean and fill buckets while Norman stayed above to pull the 
buckets up.  After a few buckets Mr. Thoreson asked Norman to put the ladder 
down again as the gas was still bad.  As he neared the top the fresh air (the 
doctor reports) evidently forced the gas lower in his lungs, collapsing them.  
Norman grabbed for his hand but was unable to get good enough hold and his 
father dropped back into the cistern.  Help arrived immediately and he was 
taken fror(sic) the cistern.  The pullmotor from the Moorhead fire department 
was used to try and survive(sic) him but to no avail.
	His death was a shock to the community for he had been in good 
health.  He had worked faithfully for the town the past few years as water 
superintendent and took care of the streets.  He loved his work and the town 
never had a better employee.
	Mr. Thoreson was a life-long resident of the Soldier community and of 
the Soldier Lutheran Church.  In all those years he took a keen interest in 
the church and in years gone by served on the various boards.
	Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 22 with a short service at 
the home at 1:30 and at the Lutheran Church in Soldier at 2:00 with Pastor 
John Kilde giving the sermon.  Burial was in the Soldier Valley Cemetery under 
the direction of the Oldham Funeral Home.
	Halden Cornelius Thoreson, son of Nels Thoreson and Agnett Clemon, was 
born on a farm in Spring Valley Township, April 14, 1881.  He was baptized and 
confirmed in the Soldier Valley Lutheran Church to which he remained faithful 
to the last.
	He was called to his eternal resting place at the age of 72 years, 3 
months and 6 days.  He died of injuries suffered while helping clean a cistern 
on his son’s farm near Moorhead on Monday, July 20.
	His entire life was spent around the Soldier community.  When a young 
man he moved to his own farm in March, 1910.  On May 25, 1910 he was united in 
marriage to Rachel Berg.  To this union two children were born, Norman of 
Moorhead, and Eileen (Mrs. Clifford Swenson) of Soldier.
	Halden and Rachel held a farm sale in January, 1948 and moved to 
Soldier in March.  Since then he has been very active as water superintendent 
and doing many other odd jobs about town.
	Mr. Thoreson was a hard working, family loving man.  He always had a 
kind word for everyone, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to either 
of his children, or any of his neighbors or friends who he could serve.
	Halden is survived by his widow, Rachel, and his two children, Norman 
and Eileen, and five grandchildren; also by two brothers, Lawrence Skow of 
Brandt, S. D. and Oliver Skow of Brookings, S.D.; one aunt, Mrs. Lena Vahler 
of Soldier, and several nieces and nephews, many cousins and a host of other 
relatives and friends.
	He was preceded in death by his parents, two sister, Minnie Skow 
Engen, Clara Thoreson, five brothers, Theodore, Carl, Nels, and Martin 
Thoreson and Alfred Skow.
	(Poem by W. S. Cruzan followed)


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