Geraldine Thurn

Geraldine (Geri) Mae (Hansen/Hanson) Thurn died peacefully Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Swankridge Nursing Home, Homestead, Florida in the excellent care of her adoring caregivers. She remained positive and cheerful in her final years, residing there since May 2013.

Geri was born February 27, 1930 at Bethesda Hospital in Crookston, Minnesota to Mabel Edna Hanson and Joseph William Hansen, a Great Northern Railroad locomotive engineer.

Geri was an extraordinarily devoted daughter, sibling, wife, mother, aunt and grandmother.  She was a generous friend and neighbor and adored every child she encountered. She was a compassionate teacher, a curious traveler and explorer. She loved art, music, dance and theater and possessed a joyful, empathetic, generous, respectful, and gentle spirit. She played the trombone and the bass violin in high school and the electric organ, piano and keyboard throughout her life. She especially enjoyed classical, old standards and jazz music.

She attended Eugene Field Elementary School and graduated from Crookston High School in 1948. She took classes in office administration and was skilled in shorthand and typing.

On December 26, 1950 she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Follard Ellis Thurn (“Swede”) at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN. They moved to Enterprise, Alabama, where Geri worked for the Army as a civilian typist/secretary while Follard completed his military training at Camp Rucker, AL. Geri returned to Crookston to stay with her parents while Follard served 7 months in Korea, then safely mustered home in time for the birth of their daughter, Nancy Carol. They made history in Bethesda hospital when the returning veteran was the first FATHER EVER allowed in the delivery room.

Geri and Swede settled in Moorhead Minnesota where Swede graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College and began his career teaching at Moorhead Sr. High. Geri was a civic minded, progressive, model citizen. She was an active volunteer, a leader in Camp Fire Girls of America, member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, and a Sunday school teacher. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a choir member at Good Shepherd Church, Moorhead, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Crookston.

In the summer of 1965 Geri and Follard hand-built the first home they owned.

Inspired by the women’s movement, Geri had a strong, determined desire for her own career, Geri returned to college to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Art at Moorhead State University, she was a member of Delta Pi Delta, and graduated August 1967 with Cum Laude honors. For a year she taught in Fargo, ND then was hired as the traveling art teacher for eight elementary schools in Moorhead MN. In 1972 she returned to Moorhead State to work on a graduate degree.

Geri became head of the Art Department at Moorhead Senior High. She strongly believed art was an imperative class for all students. She was a dedicated and engaged art teacher for 25 years. She also taught classes at her alma mater before becoming actively involved in Stevens Ministry, ELCA, and The Church of the Good Shepherd in Moorhead. She received many honors, awards and letters recognizing the generosity of her time, teaching and talents.

She and Swede traveled frequently to Hawaii, every state in the US and all of the lower provinces of Canada. They visited Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, British Isles, and to Sweden, Norway, and Denmark to meet extended family members. They danced throughout the Caribbean on many Norwegian cruises, and Geri traveled with student groups to Europe and Turkey and many summer road trips with her family.

Geri was an avid outdoorswoman, she enjoyed their sailboats, fishing in ocean, river or lake, canoeing, hiking and camping. She was talented in photography, videography, drawing, sketching, painting in oils, acrylics and watercolors and she sculpted in plaster, marble, and clay. She designed and made stained glass windows and lamps. She was skilled in sewing, quilting, weaving, knitting and gardening. She frequently corresponded with family, friends, and students. She was very supportive in her husband’s interests in fraternal and veteran’s organizations and events and was a devoted nurse and caregiver to Follard in his illness. She was always available if family or friends were in need.

Geri was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph William Hansen and Mabel Edna Hanson, baby brother, Jerald Harlan Hansen, sister, Lorraine Audrey Hansen, and husband, Follard Ellis Thurn, and her uncles and aunts.

Geri will be lovingly remembered by her family, her daughter, Nancy Carol Kitchens, Key Largo, FL and granddaughter Nicole Alexis Thorn, Spokane, WA. Her nephews and niece, Jeffrey Woodman, Austin, Texas; Joel Woodman (Bobbie), Johnston, Iowa; Cathi Woodman DeVos (Marty), Orange City, Iowa; Brian Woodman, Navarre, Florida and their children and grandchildren. Her cousin, David Moland (Darlene), Denver, CO and extended family members.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Geraldine (Geri) Mae Hanson Thurn will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, July 20, 2019 at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Moorhead, MN with the Rev. Mary Suomala Folkerds officiating. There will be a light lunch served at the church after the service. Burial in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Moorhead will be attended by the family.

Her family welcomes and encourages her former students to attend the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be sent to the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation, to be distributed to Elementary Art teachers to purchase art supplies and/or equipment for their classrooms. Please note on the check: Geri Thurn Memorial and send to  Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation, 2410 14th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56560

Donations will be matched by Geri Thurn’s family.