Larry E. Thorson

HOUSTON, MINN. - Larry E. Thorson, 63, of Houston, Minn. died on Sunday, May 25, due to a farm accident on his farm. Larry was born on July 22, 1944, in LaCrosse, Wis. to Tenart and Mildred (Benson) Thorson. He was raised in Houston and graduated from Houston High School in 1962. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War on the CVA USS Shangri-la. He attended Winona Technical College and worked two years for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa. He worked for UPS for five years. Larry was a partner in ownership of the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Winona. He married Linda Lemke. They were later divorced. On November 25, 1978, he married Peggy Erkel. Larry was a graduate of the Minnesota State Trooper Academy. He worked as a Minnesota State Trooper for over 28 years. Larry served as a personal body guard for Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich. He lived in Lakeville and LeCenter, Minn. prior to moving back to Houston in 1997. He retired from the Minnesota State Patrol in 1998. After his retirement, Larry and Peggy ran their own antique shop in Houston. Larry also worked as a school bus driver for the Houston Public Schools. He was a member of the Houston American Legion and a life member of the Police and Peace Officers Assoc. Larry was a man of great Christian faith, always putting God and family first. He is survived by his wife Peggy; mother, Mildred Gaustad of Houston; four children: Kenneth (Amy Kelly) Thorson of Houston, Erica (Kyle Lee) Thorson of Rathdrum, Idaho, Dolores Thorson of Houston, and Scott Thorson of Houston; one brother, Ted (Betty) Thorson of Houston; two sisters: Nancy (Ray Bobson) Deshayes of Eagle, Colorado, and Evonne (Richard) Snow of Houston. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Tenart Thorson; stepfather, Clifton Gaustad; and by his mother and father-in-law, Kenneth and Dolores Erkel. The funeral service for Larry will be at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 31, at his farm (8404 County 4, Houston) with funeral celebrant Daryl Thompson officiating. Burial will be in the Yucatan Cemetery in rural Houston with military honors by the Arnet - Sheldon American Legion Post of Houston. Friends may call from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Houston Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the farm on Saturday. Please feel free to leave a memory of Larry, sign his online guestbook and view Larry's Tribute Video at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/18973