Harold W Thoreson

Harold W. Thoreson, age 91, Watertown, formerly of the Willow Lake/Vienna communities, died peacefully early Sunday morning, March 9, 2014 in the Golden Living Center at Watertown where he had resided a few days. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 4-6PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and will continue on Saturday morning at the Church after 9:30AM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 10:30 AM in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Vienna with The Reverend's Dave Larson and Keith Garness officiating. Burial will be in the spring in the Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery near Vienna. The casketbearers will be McLain Thoreson, Toni, Alyssa & Austin Tidemann, and Bud, Megan & Maddie Gusso. Dorothy Fuller will be the organist with special music by Bud, Amy & Megan Gusso. He was born Harold Willard Thoreson, on the farm NE of Willow Lake in Lake Township, on October 4, 1922 to Casper and Nettie (Lunde) Thoreson. Harold was schooled in country school in Pleasant & Lake Townships and then in 1940 he graduated from Willow Lake High School. Following his schooling he helped on the family farm. On March 3, 1945 he was united in marriage to Gertrude Ann "Trudy" McLain at Watertown. The couple lived and farmed near Willow Lake for some 50 years raising small grain, corn and livestock. The couple moved to Watertown in 2007. During their over 68 years of marriage they truly did everything together, from traveling and enjoying winters in Arizona. While in Arizona, he played shuffleboard, in fact winning several tournaments, and also traveling around Arizona playing different venues. He also enjoyed hiking in Arizona. Trudy loved to fish, and Harold enjoyed going along to support her. Trudy died on March 14, 2013 and Harold has continued living in Watertown, moving to Benet Place a year ago. Harold was baptized and confirmed in the Pleasant Lutheran Church near Vienna and has been a 91 year member of the Pleasant Lutheran Church until it closed and then transferred his membership to Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Vienna. In his younger years he was involved in playing softball, something he thoroughly enjoyed. Although living and working the land was first to Harold, he also enjoyed in the community being a part of the Lake Township Board, working with the FSA office, being a member of the Senior Center in Watertown and the Golden Age Club. While in Watertown he also enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle and attending ball games. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife Trudy, two sons, and siblings, Edwin (Lenora) Thoreson, Lloyd (Blanche) Thoreson, Charles (Lorraine) Thoreson, Esther (Archie) Jackson and Rena (Art) Maifield. Grateful for having shared in his life are his sons, Gary Thoreson of Watertown, Jim (Beth) Thoreson of Willow Lake and Brian (Barbara) Thoreson of Knoxville, TN, 3 grandchildren, McLain Thoreson, Toni (Dale) Tidemann and Bud (Amy) Gusso and 4 great-grandchildren, Alyssa & Austin Tidemann and Megan & Maddie Gusso. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be preferred in his memory to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund at Vienna or the Willow Lake Alumni Association, PO Box 154, Willow Lake, SD 57278 Furness Funeral Home is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorials would be preferred in his memory to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund at Vienna or the Willow Lake Alumni Association. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com