Thora Elizabeth (Larsen) QUAM

QUAM, LARSEN, OLSEN, ENTENZA, HERBERS, MCCLUNG, PATTERSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/1/2015 at 03:30:51

January 7, 1902 --- March 1, 1990

Thora E. Quam, 88, died Thursday, March 1 at the Northfield Retirement Center in Northfield. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Northfield, with pastor Jennings Feroe officiating. Visitation 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Benson Funeral Home, Northfield. Interment at the Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield.

She was born on Jan. 7, 1902, in New York to John and Hansine Sofie (Olsen) Larsen. On June 17, 1927, Thora was married to Nels Quam at her parents' home in rural Eagle Grove. They lived in Randall until 1947 when they moved to Minneapolis. From 1951 to 1963 she worked as supervisor at the Ebenezer Home for the Aged, where Nels was superintendent. They both retired in 1963 and moved to Northfield.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, the Rev. John E. Quam of Manchester, Iowa, and Paul E. Quam of Seattle, Wash.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Lawrence Larsen.

Faribault Daily News -- Faribault, Minnesota
March 3, 1990

*****

Thora Elizabeth Quam, 88, of Northfield died on Thursday, March 1,1990 at the Northfield Retirement Center. She was born on Jan. 7, 1902, to Hansine Sofie (Olsen) and John Larsen. She was baptized in Zion Lutheran Church in Brooklyn [New York] and later confirmed at the Eagle Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle Grove, Iowa. At the time of her death she was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Northfield. Thora attended school in Brooklyn, Shabbona, ILL., and Eagle Grove. She graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1919. She attended Iowa State Teachers College, Drake University and St. Olaf College. She taught school in the rural Wright County schools, in Thor, and in Randall, all in Iowa. Family and friends remember her as a very creative teacher, for whom
teaching was a joy.

She married Nels Quam on June 17, 1927, at her parents home in rural Eagle Grove. They had two sons, John and Paul. They lived at 
Randall until 1947, when they moved to Minneapolis. From 1951 to 1963 she worked as supervisor at the Ebenezer Home for the Aged, where Nels was superintendent. They both retired in January 1963 and moved to Northfield. They lived in their home until February 1987, when they moved to the Northfield
 Retirement Center. In her years in Northfield, she and Nels were active in the Mission Society. They enjoyed attending activities at St. Olaf College and entertained students in their home. Quam was active in the GK Study Club in Randall and also served as district officer. During her years in Minneapolis she served as promotion secretary for the Womens Missionary Federation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church. The duties of this office involved writing a column in the WMF national magazine and helping organize the national conventions.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Lawrence Larsen. She is survived by her husband Nels; two sons, the Rev. Dr. John E. Quam and his wife Louise of Manchester, Iowa, and Paul E. Quam and his wife Dr. Johanna of Seattle; and seven grandchildren, Joel Quam and his wife Vivian and their son
 Justin of Bloomington, Ind., Lois Quam and her husband Matthew Entenza and their son Benjamin of St. Paul, Mary Quam Herbers and her husband Jim of Marshall, David Quam and his fiancee Mary McClung, both students at St. Olaf College, Alison Quam of New York City, Cynthia Quam and her husband Barry Patterson and their son Eric Nels of Seattle, and Timothy Quam of Seattle.

Visitation was on Sunday, March 4, at the Benson Funeral Home in Northfield. The funeral service was held Monday, March 5, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Northfield with the Rev. Jennings Feroe officiating. Music was provided by organist Ruth Ferguson and soloist Don McRae. Pallbearers were Joel Quam, Alison Quam, Lois Quam, Cynthia Quam, Mary Quam Herbers, Timothy Quam and David Quam. Interment was at Oaklawn Cemetery in Northfield. Arrangements were made by the Benson Funeral Home.