Eldon Thorson

Eldon B. Thorson, age 81, of Spicer, died Sunday afternoon, April 27, at Bethesda Heritage Center in Willmar.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2, at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in New London. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer and one hour prior to the service at the church of Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family are preferred.

Eldon Byron Thorson was born on August 25, 1932, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Roy and Alma (Trustheim) Thorson. He grew up and received his education in Willmar. On September 24, 1950, in South Dakota, Eldon married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Dahlbeck and to this union they were blessed with three children, Michael, Rick and Lori. Eldon loved animals and working with his hands. He worked as a welder and sheet metal fabricator and also operated a small dairy farm in the New London / Lake Florida area. In 1970, he sold the farm and moved to the Twin Cities to continue his career as a welder and sheet metal fabricator for Mastercraft Inc. in Burnsville. In 1985, Eldon retired from the welding industry and moved to the Spicer area. At that time, he and Joyce opened Thorson's New and Used Shop in Willmar. As the shop grew and flourished it became more than just a business, it became a gathering point for family, friends and customers alike. In 2005, Eldon and Joyce sold the business and retired to the Spicer community. Eldon continued to do the things he enjoyed the most, hunting, fishing, gardening, spending time with family, friends and the love of his life for over 63 years, his beloved wife, Joyce. Eldon will be remembered most for his funny sense of humor, his ability to tell stories, being a hard worker and having a kind and gentle heart.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Spicer; two sons, Michael Thorson (and Carol) of New London and Rick (and Ann) Thorson of New London; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Also surviving are six siblings, Marilyn Moorehouse of Spicer, Phyllis Nelson of Minneapolis, Roger (and Shirley) Thorson of Minneapolis, Lowell Thorson of New London, Dale (and Karen) Thorson of Washington and Beatrice (and Dean) Brockman of Minneapolis, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Lori and one brother, Harold.

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