September 29, 1922 – Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Service Information
Our Father’s Lutheran Church, Rockford, MN
Monday, September 16, 2013
10:00 AM
Visitation Information
The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, MN
Sunday, September 15, 2013
4-8 PM
Lester O. Thovson, age 90 of Rockford, MN passed away on September 10, 2013 at Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids, MN with his loving family by his side.
Funeral service on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 10 AM at Our Father’s Lutheran Church, Rockford, MN.
Visitation on Sunday from 4-8 PM at The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, MN & ½ hour prior to service at the church on Monday.
Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Fort Snelling, MN.
Les was born on September 29, 1922 in Canby, MN to Oliver & Christina (Forland) Thovson. He was raised in the Canby area on the family farm. He joined the US Navy as a young man & served in the Pacific during WWII on the USS Reno. Upon his return to civilian life he met & married his first wife, Delores in November of 1952. They moved to St. Louis Park where they raised their family of twin girls & two boys. Les worked for Paper-Calmenson Steel Company as a welder for 30 years before retiring. Delores passed away in 1989. Les later met Ruth Stromme from Minot, ND & they were married on April 17, 1993. They built a house & settled in Rockford, MN. Les loved to travel & for many years he attended all of the ships’ reunions around the country with his crew mates from the USS Reno. He was very active in his church; Our Father’s Lutheran Church & volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program as well as the local food shelf.
Lester is survived by his children, Colleen (Gary) Kocemba, Cynthia (Mark) Casper, Bruce (Carol) Thovson, Gregory (Laura) Thovson; step-children, Caroline (Robert) Overstreet, Terry Hoffer; 14 grandchildren & 17 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wives, Delores & Ruth; brothers & sisters, Anna Jesme, James Jesme, Telmer Thovson & Mildred Mattison.
The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, MN assisted the family with arrangements.