Thornton, DeLoris Madeline (Solem) 1930 - 2022
THORNTON, SOLEM, YOUNG, ZIECH, VETTER, BUTLER, OSTERHOUDT, RICHARDSON, WHITEHEAD, BRASHI, DOUGLAS, SCHULTZ, DAVIS, GANNON, ROJAS, DONLAN, LEYSE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/6/2022 at 12:21:12
DeLoris Thornton, age 91, of Decorah, IA, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2022, at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, at the Decorah Lutheran Church 309 Winnebago St., with Pastor Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday.
The service can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/iKEpZXmYjZE
Memorials may be directed to Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, Wellington Place, or Decorah Lutheran Church.
DeLoris Madeline Thornton was born on December 19,1930, the daughter of Melvin and Clara (Young) Solem in Decorah, IA. She grew up on the farm in the Locust and Canoe area and loved taking care of the cows, goats, and chickens. She attended Decorah High School where she met her true love, Glen Thornton.
DeLoris and Glen were united in marriage on October 3, 1948, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust. Together they had six children: Linda, Larry, Al, Denise, Lori, and Jenny. DeLoris and Glen have 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
DeLoris was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an excellent homemaker who kept her family well-fed and fashionably dressed in hand-sewn and often matching clothing. She treasured time spent with family. Holiday gatherings and traditions were important to her, and she passed on to her children the skill of making lefse, krumkake, and rommegrot. Music was always a part of her life, and she took pleasure in singing and playing the piano and accordion. She enjoyed going to auctions and restoring furniture and antiques. As the family business grew, DeLoris worked in partnership with Glen at Thornton Feed and Grain and kept the books (and Glen) in order.
DeLoris and Glen always made time for fun and adventure. They enjoyed boating on the Mississippi River, fishing trips up north, family trips to Lake Miltona, and Tuesday nights at Your Place. DeLoris was the initiator at trying new things whether it was joining the snowmobile club or learning how to square dance, and Glen was happy to join her- together they embraced life.
In their retirement years, DeLoris and Glen became skilled wood crafters and created many beautiful pieces to share with family. DeLoris took great pride in maintaining her beautiful home on East Broadway for 58 years. DeLoris was a life-long Lutheran and long-time member of Decorah Lutheran Church with a strong Christian faith which sustained her during many challenges throughout her life, especially in the past few years after the loss of her beloved husband.
DeLoris is survived by her children: Larry (Lorris) Thornton, Shakopee, MN; Al (Tammy) Thornton, Decorah, IA; Denise (Leonard) Ziech, Merrill, WI; Lori Vetter, Grimes, IA, and Jenny Butler, Decorah, IA. Son-in-law: Oz Osterhoudt, Faribault, MN. Grandchildren: Melissa Osterhoudt, Angie Osterhoudt, and Amanda (Jesse) Richardson; Ashlee (Sean) Whitehead and Raisa (Daniel) Brashi; Adam (Lana) Thornton, Luke (Sam) Thornton, and Taisha (Tanner) Douglas; Tanner Schultz; Rachel (Tim) Davis, Kirsten (Dan) Gannon, and Emily (Angel) Rojas; Sam Donlan and Seth Butler. Twenty-seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
DeLoris was preceded in death by her husband: Glen Thornton in 2018. Daughter: Linda Osterhoudt in 2015. Son-in-law: Russell Schultz. Parents: Melvin and Clara (Young) Solem. Brother: Curtis (Geraldine) Solem. Sister: Shirley (Donald) Leyse. Father and mother-in-law: Andrew and Pearl (Ruth) Thornton. Brother and sister-in-law: Ronald (Marilyn) Thornton.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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