Obituary of Vera Jane Thorson

Vera J. Thorson

Age 89, of Abbotsford, passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Abbotsford Health Care Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Monday, September 13, 2021 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Abbotsford with Rev. Tim Oudenhoven officiating. Following the Mass, Vera will be laid to rest in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Monday from 9:30 AM until time of services. The honor of pallbearer belongs to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Vera Jane Jensen was born at home on July 11, 1932 in the Town of Mayville, the daughter  of Arthur “Dane” and Margaret “Marge” (Ulrich) Jensen. On July 23, 1950, she was united in marriage to Christ Sittner in Chicago; they divorced a short time later. She moved back home and married Norbert Younker; her high school sweetheart, in Medford on July 14, 1954. They farmed in Dorchester and all the life’s joys and pains that came with that life until Norbert’s death in 1977. She remarried on November 8, 1983 to Donald Thorson in Arkansas. They operated a logging and trucking company in Owen with Vera doing the bookwork, taxes and paying the bills until Don’s retirement in 2008. Vera also worked for her daughter at Courage to Change Recovery as office manager from 1999 until her retirement in 2011.

She graduated from eighth grade in her youth and in 1999 she returned and received her high school diploma. She called home to many area towns at different times while married to Don; to include Jerkwater, Owen, Withee and Dorchester. She was a resident at several assisted living facilities including Pine Ridge-Colby, Home Place-Dorchester and then the Abbotsford Nursing Home for the past six weeks until her peaceful passing.

Vera was a Godmother to six of her nieces, nephews and family: Gail Meyer, Debbie Seidel, Kevin Meyer, Marge Stelzel, Lori Cypher and Cary Reynolds.

She loved to attend the Hodag Country Music Festival and find any reason to go dancing. She was gifted with making jellies and jams, along with homemade bread. Vera was a member of various bowling and pool leagues, always looking forward to a game or two or getting together to play cards. She enjoyed the story of the Little Drummer Boy and what the true meaning of the Christmas season was. She was always ready to lend a helping hand to her family or to anyone she met.

She is survived by two daughters: Linda (David) Broeske of Dorchester and RaeAnn (Scott) Wichlacz of Medford; two sons: Chris (Mary) Younker of Abbotsford and Randy (Jill) Younker of Dorchester and eleven stepchildren from her marriage to Donald Thorson: Roxann (Maynard) Purgett of Abbotsford, Jacqueline (Robert) Suthard of Dorchester, Paula St. Clair of Wausau, Linda Bruner of Milwaukee, Byron Thorson of Apple Valley, MN, Mark Thorson of Wausau, Rhonda (Duke) Thorson of Sandusky, OH, Brenda (Fazollah) Behroyan of Lake Worth, FL, Wayne (Jackie) Thorson of Wausau, William (Lena) Thorson of El Cajun, CA and Susan Thorson of Aurora, IL.

Vera is further survived by her seven grandchildren: Robert Broeske of Dorchester, Cory (Amy) Broeske of Dorchester, Joe Mahl of New Albin, IA, Lisa (Teto) Galvan of Abbotsford, Tina Younker of Wausau, Jared Younker of Elk Mound and Jena (Ryan) Fahland of Rush City, MN; four step-grandchildren: Travis (Jodie) Wichlacz of Merrill, Jay (Amber) Wichlacz of Gilmer, TX, Ryan Wichlacz of Rib Lake and Beth Wichlacz of Medford; her seven great-grandchildren: Skyler Mahl of New Albin, IA, Gaj Mahl of Phoenix, AZ, Briane Fitzl of Stanley, Edward Fitzl of Abbotsford and Tucker, Theresa and Tristin Broeske of Dorchester; her nine step great-grandchildren: Logan Wichlacz of Watertown, Devin Sperber of Merrill, Dakota, Makayla, Aubrey and Koal Wichlacz of Rib Lake, Kayden and Kaleb Dassow of Medford and Paxton Wichlacz of Glimer, TX.

She is also survived by two brothers: Bruce (Vera) Jensen of Dorchester, Jack (Tom) Jensen of Glidden and one sister, Sandy Dassow of Dousman as well as many other relatives and friends.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Norbert Younker and Donald Thorson; her son, Ronny Younker; six sisters, Beulah Fisher, Charlene Hundrieser, Donna Goessl, Verna Meyer, Marilyn Meyer and Audrey Cypher; two brothers, Glen Jensen and Gene Jensen along with three siblings who died at birth and stepdaughter Merry Moran. 

The family would like to express their gratitude for the care and compassion shown to their mother by the staff at Abbotsford Healthcare Center, the staff of Hope Hospice of Medford and all of the individuals responsible for her care.

If desired, memorials in Vera’s name are being accepted by her family for a charity yet to be determined.

Her arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.