I. Eugene Thorson, 1914-2009
Reprinted Courtesy of Manhattan Mercury
Ingolf Eugene Thorson, 95, died Friday, May 8, 2009. Family members provided some of the following information.
He was born January 15, 1914, in Hatton, ND. He was the fifth son and ninth child of Norwegian immigrants Anna (Guldbrandsen) and Andrew Thorson.
He was nicknamed “Stubby” as a child and the name remained with him all his life. Stubby was baptized and confirmed at St John’s Lutheran church in Hatton.
He attended Hatton schools and enjoyed sports and scouting, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He kept in touch with his boyhood friends all his life.
On August 24, 1944, he was united in marriage to the former Barbara Lois Anderson. They had known each other since childhood. Three daughters and one son were born to this union.
Stubby attended North Dakota State University and graduated with a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle.
He traveled and worked for the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, during World War II, and the Kellex Corporation in New York City before moving to Manhattan in 1948 to begin his teaching career at Kansas State. He retired professor emeritus of engineering in 1981. Stubby began teaching engineering courses in the College of Architecture. He was especially proud of creating and developing K-State’s Construction Science Degree Program and seeing it to full accreditation. Former students often sought out his professional wisdom. He always said that he had a great job working with young people his whole life.
He received many professional honors throughout his career. While teaching, Stubby also did the structural work on many homes and buildings in the Manhattan area.
Stubby was an active member of First Lutheran church since 1948. He served his church as chairman of the building committee when the current sanctuary was constructed. He was a past church board member and officer, choir member and guild member. Through the years he faithfully worked on many projects at First Lutheran. He remained faithful in the use of the Word and Sacrament of the church until his death. Together with Barbara he remained dedicated to the baptismal promise he made for his children.
In Manhattan, he was past president of the former Riley County Hospital Association, and was active in other civic, educational and professional organizations.
Stubby had many interests. He enjoyed analyzing how buildings were put together and was often consulted on the structural soundness of buildings. He liked nature and growing things, especially trees. He enjoyed telling of his travels with the Coast and Geodetic Survey, going to sea, and working at Pearl Harbor while at the Naval Shipyard. He especially loved the time each year since 1961 when he could be in Minnesota at “the cabin.” He liked to swim and the summer of his 80th birthday he jumped off the Ottertail Bridge with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The “cabin at Ottertail” was a place of wonderful memories for the family. Stubby was a hard worker at all he did.
He was preceded in death by his parents Anna and Andrew, four brothers and four sisters.
Barbara survives of the home. They were fortunate to have celebrated 63 wedding anniversaries. He was the beloved father of Mary Anne (Karmon) Almquist of Lindsborg; Dan (Sandi) Thorson of Amor, MN; Sarah Preston of Manhattan; and Becky (Bob) Shawgo of Lakeville, MN. Also left to mourn his passing are his 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Winnie Larson, nieces, nephews and many wonderful friends.
Services will be at 2 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at First Lutheran Church, 10th and Poyntz Avenue. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan. Visitation is 4:30 to 6 pm Monday, May 11, 2009, at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com
Memorials may be given to the First Lutheran Church (I E Thorson memorial), the I Eugene Thorson Construction Science Scholarship at KSU, or Homecare and Hospice Inc. of Manhattan. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan KS 66502.