THORSON, Elmer Truman

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Friday, January 24, 2003 Elmer Truman Thorson, 72, a loving brother, father and grandfather, passed away on Jan 20, 2003, surrounded by his family and friends. Born Sept. 13, 1930, in Folden Township, Minn., Mr. Thorson grew up in Henning, (Otter Tail County), Minn. He served in the U.S. Air Force, 10th Air Force, from June 1949, serving for a time on active duty in Okinawa, Japan, until his separation on Sept. 3, 1953. Married on Aug. 24, 1956, in Anoka, Minn., he lived with his family in Minneapolis, Minn., where he worked his way through business school and began his career in banking. He served in the 1960s on the New Hope City Council. He worked at Northwestern Bank until 1969, when Mr. Thorson moved his family to Phoenix, Ariz. He worked at Valley National Bank (now Bank One), for 32 years. He retired in December 1992. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 9400, Phoenix; a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 75, Phoenix; a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 2957. Sunnyslope; a volunteer with the Sunnyslope Village Alliance and Historical Society; a lifetime member of the American Bowling Congress; and a lifetime member and past president of the Greater Phoenix Bowling Association. Mr. Thorson was preceded in death by his parents, mother, Perna (Harris) Thorson; father Palmer Thorson; and aunt and uncle Lula and Melvin Thorson, who raised him and his sister after their parents passed away at a young age. He also was preceded in death by his brother William and cousin Julius. He is survived by his sister, Evelyn Bjorklund and her husband, Russell of Henning, Minn.; niece, Roxane Malland and her husband, Darrell of Hancock, Minn.; nephews, Rodney Bjorklund and his wife, Konnie of Fairplay, Colo.; Rance Bjorklund of Henning, Minn., Rian Bjorklund of Willmar, Minn,; Rick Bjorklund and his wife, Alicia of Lake in the Hills, Ill., his cousin Julius' wife, Rose Thorson of Henning, Minn.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joyce and Boyd Targeson of Osseo, Minn., two daughters, Kari Nadine Snyder and her husband, Terrance Lee of Tucson, Ariz.; Jana Marie Treece and her husband, Robert Edward of Rosamond, Calif.; two grandsons Terrance Lee Snyder Jr. and Raymond George Louis Snyder; his girlfriend Gerry Cannon of Phoenix; and many, many loving friends. Please join us for a memorial service and celebration of his life at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2957, 633 West Hatcher Road, Phoenix, Ariz., followed by a potluck reception in the club. Memorial contributions can be made in his name to FOE Aerie 2957 Heart Fund. 633 West Hatcher, Phoenix, Az., 85021 or to the Sunnyslope Village Alliance and Historical Society Scholarship Fund, 755 East Hatcher, Phoenix, Az., 85020. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.