Harriet Avilda Larson Thorson

Harriet Avilda Larson Thorson, 93, peacefully passed away November 13, 2011 at Sunshine Terrace Nursing Home with family at her side. She was born May 11, 1918 to Hans Olaf and Minnie Larson in Butterfield, Minnesota. She graduated from Le Sueur High School in Le Sueur, Minnesota where she excelled in history and art. She was a life-time member of the Lutheran church, involved in Bible studies and other church activities. Harriet owned and operated Crosslake Beauty Shop for many years and her father operated a barber shop at the same location. The importance of beauty and color stayed with her to the end. She always looked her best, going weekly to the beauty salon at Sunshine Terrace and wearing her many colorful scarves. Her enthusiasm and love of art led her to start the Crosslake Art Club. She loved birds and flowers and captured this in her paintings. Art, family, Minnesota and her Norwegian ancestry were her favorite topics. She loved everything Norwegian and never missed a smorgasbord. Throughout her life she felt it important to help others. Over the years, she delivered many bouquets of gladiolas that her father grew, fixed sick neighbors' hair and made sure they had a meal. She will be remembered for her stories, her love of family, her art, and a strong sense of her ancestry. She is survived by two children, Suzanne Thorson Sherm Jensen and Pete Maria Thorson; grandchildren, Ginger Rose Jensen and Peter Olaf Thorson. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Maxwell "Doc" Thorson, her brother Howard Larson, and her niece's daughter, Sandra McPhee. A small memorial will be held at Thanksgiving at her daughter's home. In the spring a memorial will be held at Pineview Cemetery, Crosslake, Minnesota where she will be buried under a pine tree, next to her loved ones. The family expresses gratitude to Sunshine Terrace and Community Nursing Services staff, to Dr. Agnes Szpunar, to the "angels" that went after dinner time to be with Harriet and help her when she was in need, to family, friends, and volunteers who wrote and came to show their love, to Pastor Corinne Thul who always made her feel that she was an important friend, to all the people associated with the Protestant church services and Bible studies at Sunshine Terrace, to Pastor Nuhn and friends from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, who celebrated Harriet's last worship service with her.