Mabel M. Thorsen

Mabel Mae Thorsen, 97, of Lake Park, MN, and Mission, TX, died Monday, October 5, 2015, in her home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Mabel Mae Thorsen was born in rural Lake Park, MN on February 13, 1918, to Richard and Marie Day Tietz. She was a longtime resident of Atlanta Township, having moved to Canada at the age of 2 with her family and returning at age 9.

Mabel and Martin Thorsen were married at Atlanta Lutheran Church on June 6, 1937. Following their marriage, they farmed in Atlanta Township until retiring in 1977. Mabel also owned and operated Thorsen’s Drygoods Store in Lake Park, MN, while actively involved in the farm operation. Mabel was a descendant of Simon Willard the founder of Concord, MA. Mabel was of English and German heritage, but became Norwegian by marriage and was known as the best lefse and lutefisk maker in the family.

Since 1979, Mabel has spent the winter months in Mission, Texas, where she and Martin managed an apartment complex. After Martin’s death in 1995, Mabel continued to manage the rentals until this past spring when she returned to her summer home on the farm at Lake Park, MN. Until mid –July of this year, Mabel continued to do her lawn and garden work, bake, cook, and feed her family and friends.

In her Texas community, as well as Lake Park, Mabel is considered an honored adopted Grandmother to many as well as an adopted Mother to some. She has provided loving care to many extended family members and friends throughout her life. Mabel’s hospitality has known no limits and all have been welcomed to her home and table. Characteristic of Mabel was her choice to become a hospice volunteer while in her 80’s. Most of Mabel’s volunteerism was not on a formal basis but rather as someone’s need became known to her.
A lifelong learner, Mabel followed world events by reading the daily newspaper and devouring non-fiction books. Valuing education, Mabel provided a leadership role in her church to serve youth and took every opportunity to encourage those around her to open their minds to creative ideas to better understand the world. During Mabel’s travels throughout this country, neighboring countries and Europe, she touched many people’s lives. Her wonderful memory and ability to tell the stories, kept the places, the people, and the events in her long life alive for the rest of her family to enjoy and remember as well.

Mabel is survived by her daughter, Anna Louise Darby, Moorhead, MN; daughter-in-law, Ann Bergseid Thorsen, Hoyt Lakes, MN; brother, Vernon Nettie Zehms, Corinth, TX; two sisters, Pearl Anderson, Grantsburg, WI and Joyce Virgil Seegebarth, Hinckley, MN; sisters-in-law, Odelia Tietz, Detroit Lakes, MN and Dorothy Tietz, Minneapolis, MN; five grandchildren, Robert Erin Darby, Knoxville, TN, Dawn Kise, Hoyt Lakes, MN, Sara Loyd, Aurora, MN, Margit David Beise, Aurora, MN, and Andrew Thorsen, Hoyt Lakes, MN; ten great-grandchildren, Madeleine, Samantha, Lila, Nick, Steven, Jon, Shianne, Matt, Victoria and Hailey; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She also leaves behind her Texas family, including Amanda, who calls Mabel, Mom.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son Paul Martin Thorsen; three brothers, Raymond Tietz, Duane Tietz and David Zehms; two sisters, Evelyn Bergstrom and Vienna Baker; and an infant sibling.

Memorial Service: Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in Atlanta Church, rural Ulen, MN. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.

Interment: Atlanta Church Cemetery, rural Ulen, MN.