Esther M. Thoreson

RUSHFORD, MINN. - Esther M. (Vogen) Thoreson, 96, of Rushford died on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford. Esther was born on June 5, 1910 to Ole and Synneva (Boyum) Paulson in Winona County, Minn. She was raised and lived in the North Prairie area all of her life until moving to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in 1999. She married Victor Vogen on February 5, 1930. Victor died in 1967. Esther married Robert Thoreson on April 23, 1983. Robert died in 1999. During her career she worked at the Smith Store in Rushford and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home. Esther was a member of the North Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Lanesboro, Minn. She was active in the North Prairie Ladies Aid. Esther and Victor were also janitors for North Prairie Lutheran Church for many years. Esther enjoyed singing and playing the autoharp at church. She was an excellent cook, baker and gardener. Esther is survived by her son, Curtis (Marlys) Vogen of Peterson, Minn.; one grandson, Larry (Kim) Vogen of Winona, Minn.; one granddaughter, Leann Yates of Rochester, Minn.; two great-grandchildren: Jeffrey Vogen of Madison, Wis. and Bradley Vogen of Winona, Minn.; four step-children: Allan (Iris) Thoreson of Marshalltown, Iowa, Wayne (Louise) Thoreson of Roseville, Minn., Janice (Jerry) Vinje-Schoenecker of Eagan, Minn., and Marian (Wayne) Stensgard of Harmony, Minn.; several step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, eight brothers, and three infant sisters. The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, at North Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Lanesboro, Minn. with the rev. Ron Warnes officiating. Friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Rushford Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family prefers memorials to be directed to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home or to the North Prairie Lutheran Church. Please feel free to sign the online guestbook or leave a memory of Esther at www.hofffuneral.com