Thurston, Elaine "Chick" M. (1935-2019)

THURSTON, MARTINSON, HILLDAHL, KONKLE, JENSEN, SCHWICHTENBERG, RAY

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/28/2019 at 17:07:41

Elaine "Chick" M. Thurston
August 12, 1935 - January 30, 2019

Elaine "Chick" M. Thurston, 83, of Forest City, passed away with her children at her side on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Chick was born in the Decorah, Iowa, hospital on August 12, 1935, to Myron and Ellen (Hilldahl) Martinson. Back then, her arrival and a week in the hospital cost all of $40.00. She lived in Nordness with a brother Dale and sister Mary Ann and her parents until she was four years old. At that time, the family moved to Gladbrook, Iowa. When she entered the first grade, they moved to Forest City where her dad worked for the telephone company.

Chick attended all twelve grades in Forest City, and after graduation in 1953, she enrolled at Waldorf College. While attending Waldorf, she met Jack Thurston. The two married on December 1, 1956. Two children were born to their union, Timothy, now of Houston, Texas, and Carrie Thurston Carson, now of Denton, Texas. Timothy and his wife Pat had two children, Luke and Mary Kate. Carrie married Dale Carson. Lindsay Konkle is Carrie’s daughter.

In the 50s, Chick worked at the root beer stand as a car hop. In time, she found other employment at International Harvester, Deluxe Filters, and Winnebago Industries. She, especially, enjoyed her work as the manager of the Winnebago Surplus Store, a position she held until she retired in 2011.

Chick had many hobbies, but she loved sewing the most. Indeed, she never grew tired of it. A very good seamstress, she sewed for her entire family even crafting tailored suits for Jack. As unbelievable as it may sound today, she never had a boughten dress until she was in eighth grade. In addition, she learned the art of Hardanger, a Norwegian hand work tradition.

She loved making all her porcelain dolls. Then, after retiring, she learned to quilt and developed a deep love for quilting. Moreover, she helped her "Y" coffee girls with quilting. Each year, they would all work together making quilts. Many of those quits she gave away to family members and special friends. She put a lot of love into each one she made. Furthermore, she worked many elections as precinct chairman. Although they required her to put in long days, she enjoyed seeing all the people. Lastly, she enjoyed the many Bible study programs she attended.

Jack and Chick spent many hours at the "Y" where they walked and exercised. Chick had many friends who walked many miles beside her on the tread mills. They enjoyed coffee after exercising with the "Y" girls who had become her special friends. Moreover, she enjoyed her trip to the Drake Relays where she and her sister did an 8K. Enjoying their travels, Jack and Chick went on several cruises. However, she saw her trip to Norway with Jack, her brother, Dale, his wife, Adoline, and her sister, Mary Ann, as a very special trip. Indeed, she had a lifelong love affair for Norway. In addition, they made many, many trips to Decorah, her favorite place to visit. Throughout, she instilled in her family her love for their Norwegian heritage and her love for Decorah. The Welp kids were very special and they enjoyed all their sports activities they attended.

She leaves behind many family members including her husband, Jack; her son, Tim; her daughter, Carrie, along with a very special niece, Nancy, and her husband, Dick Welp. They were always willing to help wherever they were needed. In addition, she had many other nieces and nephews, all of whom she cherished. Moreover, she had many friends around Forest City and in many parts of the country. She never met a stranger.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Myron and Ellen; her brother, Dale; her sister, Mary Ann; her sisters-in-law, Adoline Martinson and Phyllis Schwichtenberg; and her brothers-in-law, Gaylen Jensen and Chuck Schwichtenberg; a nephew, Brian Thurston; her mother-in-law, Amy Ray; and her step father-in-law, Arnold Ray.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 16, 2019, at the First Baptist Church in Forest City with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., Friday, February 15th at First Baptist Church in Forest City.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2018.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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