Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson
1939 - 2022
VETERAN
Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson, age 83, passed away December 5, 2022, at Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Montana.
Bob was born October 17, 1939, to Alvin Ernest Thorson and Edith Mary Miller Thorson in the old Saint James Hospital in Butte, Montana. His parents, he, and his brother, Don, ranched in several places: Arlee, Montana, in 1940, up Valley Creek, Pickett Creek Ranch up the West Fork of the Bitterroot in 1942, and Wise River, Montana, at the Potts place until 1944, and later, a ranch owned by Bob's grandmother until 1948, when that ranch sold. At that point, they moved back to the Bitterroot, first Victor, and then Corvallis. His home has been Corvallis, Montana, since 1949.
Bob attended school in his early years at Wise River and Victor, and then from 5th grade until graduation in 1957, at Corvallis, Montana. He was active in FFA at Corvallis School, and also the Lads-and-Lassies and Summerdale 4-H Clubs. Bob was active in MYF at the Corvallis Methodist Church, and became a member on December 2o, 1953. He continued to support his church for over 68 years.
In September 1957, he joined the United States Navy and was on active duty until October 1960. He was in the Navy Reserve as a drilling reservist for a total of 30 years. He went on as a retired reservist until the age of 60, and upon final retirement, had a total years of 42 years and one month of service.
Bob married Carolyn Kay Nordheim on June 20, 1965, celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in 2006. They had two children, Christian Robert Thorson, and Jeanette Jo Thorson.
Bob worked at Thorson and Sons Manufacturing for 57 years, having his first job there turning the bellows for the forge. He moved on to cutting iron with the power hacksaw and drilling holes in iron. He also did woodwork after school. At the age of 13, he would drive the old truck from Bass Lane to the Tabor Sawmill in Riverside to pick up the boards to cut. Thorsons Manufacturing stopped operations in 2006. Driving across-country you will still see the famous red chutes out on the land. His hydraulic creations are used in veterinary schools around the country.
Bob was a past officer and 60-year member of the Corvallis Grange. He was a 4-H leader for 18 years, and served as 4-H Council president for two years. He served as a 4-H judge at the Ravalli County Fair for 12 years. He was a Ravalli County Fair Superintendent for antique collections for many years. He also was commissioner and secretary of the Humble Drainage District for 20½ years.
After retirement, Bob stayed very busy tinkering, gardening, canning, and enjoying his hobbies. He especially enjoyed his Tired Iron Group, and his "old car guys". He taught himself to play piano, and wrote stories of his youth to pass down to his family. He taught his granddaughters to weld, and enjoyed studying history. He continued to be exceptionally active and always independent. Bob was always ready with an interesting or funny story.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carolyn; brother, Donald; and several in-laws. He is survived by his son, Chris; daughter, Jeanette Smith (Rob); his grandchildren: Harlie Grace, Eden Kay, and Briar Thor; his sister-in-law, Linda Thorson; nephew, Laurence Thorson, and his wife, Randi; and sister-in-law, Joan Angel, and her husband, Richard.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and community that he was so much a part of.
A service will be held Wednesday, December 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel. Private family interment will follow at Corvallis Cemetery following.
— Daly-Leach Chapel | 2022
1939 - 2022
VETERAN
Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson, age 83, passed away December 5, 2022, at Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Montana.
Bob was born October 17, 1939, to Alvin Ernest Thorson and Edith Mary Miller Thorson in the old Saint James Hospital in Butte, Montana. His parents, he, and his brother, Don, ranched in several places: Arlee, Montana, in 1940, up Valley Creek, Pickett Creek Ranch up the West Fork of the Bitterroot in 1942, and Wise River, Montana, at the Potts place until 1944, and later, a ranch owned by Bob's grandmother until 1948, when that ranch sold. At that point, they moved back to the Bitterroot, first Victor, and then Corvallis. His home has been Corvallis, Montana, since 1949.
Bob attended school in his early years at Wise River and Victor, and then from 5th grade until graduation in 1957, at Corvallis, Montana. He was active in FFA at Corvallis School, and also the Lads-and-Lassies and Summerdale 4-H Clubs. Bob was active in MYF at the Corvallis Methodist Church, and became a member on December 2o, 1953. He continued to support his church for over 68 years.
In September 1957, he joined the United States Navy and was on active duty until October 1960. He was in the Navy Reserve as a drilling reservist for a total of 30 years. He went on as a retired reservist until the age of 60, and upon final retirement, had a total years of 42 years and one month of service.
Bob married Carolyn Kay Nordheim on June 20, 1965, celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in 2006. They had two children, Christian Robert Thorson, and Jeanette Jo Thorson.
Bob worked at Thorson and Sons Manufacturing for 57 years, having his first job there turning the bellows for the forge. He moved on to cutting iron with the power hacksaw and drilling holes in iron. He also did woodwork after school. At the age of 13, he would drive the old truck from Bass Lane to the Tabor Sawmill in Riverside to pick up the boards to cut. Thorsons Manufacturing stopped operations in 2006. Driving across-country you will still see the famous red chutes out on the land. His hydraulic creations are used in veterinary schools around the country.
Bob was a past officer and 60-year member of the Corvallis Grange. He was a 4-H leader for 18 years, and served as 4-H Council president for two years. He served as a 4-H judge at the Ravalli County Fair for 12 years. He was a Ravalli County Fair Superintendent for antique collections for many years. He also was commissioner and secretary of the Humble Drainage District for 20½ years.
After retirement, Bob stayed very busy tinkering, gardening, canning, and enjoying his hobbies. He especially enjoyed his Tired Iron Group, and his "old car guys". He taught himself to play piano, and wrote stories of his youth to pass down to his family. He taught his granddaughters to weld, and enjoyed studying history. He continued to be exceptionally active and always independent. Bob was always ready with an interesting or funny story.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carolyn; brother, Donald; and several in-laws. He is survived by his son, Chris; daughter, Jeanette Smith (Rob); his grandchildren: Harlie Grace, Eden Kay, and Briar Thor; his sister-in-law, Linda Thorson; nephew, Laurence Thorson, and his wife, Randi; and sister-in-law, Joan Angel, and her husband, Richard.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and community that he was so much a part of.
A service will be held Wednesday, December 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel. Private family interment will follow at Corvallis Cemetery following.
— Daly-Leach Chapel | 2022
Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson
1939 - 2022
VETERAN
Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson, age 83, passed away December 5, 2022, at Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Montana.
Bob was born October 17, 1939, to Alvin Ernest Thorson and Edith Mary Miller Thorson in the old Saint James Hospital in Butte, Montana. His parents, he, and his brother, Don, ranched in several places: Arlee, Montana, in 1940, up Valley Creek, Pickett Creek Ranch up the West Fork of the Bitterroot in 1942, and Wise River, Montana, at the Potts place until 1944, and later, a ranch owned by Bob's grandmother until 1948, when that ranch sold. At that point, they moved back to the Bitterroot, first Victor, and then Corvallis. His home has been Corvallis, Montana, since 1949.
Bob attended school in his early years at Wise River and Victor, and then from 5th grade until graduation in 1957, at Corvallis, Montana. He was active in FFA at Corvallis School, and also the Lads-and-Lassies and Summerdale 4-H Clubs. Bob was active in MYF at the Corvallis Methodist Church, and became a member on December 2o, 1953. He continued to support his church for over 68 years.
In September 1957, he joined the United States Navy and was on active duty until October 1960. He was in the Navy Reserve as a drilling reservist for a total of 30 years. He went on as a retired reservist until the age of 60, and upon final retirement, had a total years of 42 years and one month of service.
Bob married Carolyn Kay Nordheim on June 20, 1965, celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in 2006. They had two children, Christian Robert Thorson, and Jeanette Jo Thorson.
Bob worked at Thorson and Sons Manufacturing for 57 years, having his first job there turning the bellows for the forge. He moved on to cutting iron with the power hacksaw and drilling holes in iron. He also did woodwork after school. At the age of 13, he would drive the old truck from Bass Lane to the Tabor Sawmill in Riverside to pick up the boards to cut. Thorsons Manufacturing stopped operations in 2006. Driving across-country you will still see the famous red chutes out on the land. His hydraulic creations are used in veterinary schools around the country.
Bob was a past officer and 60-year member of the Corvallis Grange. He was a 4-H leader for 18 years, and served as 4-H Council president for two years. He served as a 4-H judge at the Ravalli County Fair for 12 years. He was a Ravalli County Fair Superintendent for antique collections for many years. He also was commissioner and secretary of the Humble Drainage District for 20½ years.
After retirement, Bob stayed very busy tinkering, gardening, canning, and enjoying his hobbies. He especially enjoyed his Tired Iron Group, and his "old car guys". He taught himself to play piano, and wrote stories of his youth to pass down to his family. He taught his granddaughters to weld, and enjoyed studying history. He continued to be exceptionally active and always independent. Bob was always ready with an interesting or funny story.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carolyn; brother, Donald; and several in-laws. He is survived by his son, Chris; daughter, Jeanette Smith (Rob); his grandchildren: Harlie Grace, Eden Kay, and Briar Thor; his sister-in-law, Linda Thorson; nephew, Laurence Thorson, and his wife, Randi; and sister-in-law, Joan Angel, and her husband, Richard.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and community that he was so much a part of.
A service will be held Wednesday, December 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel. Private family interment will follow at Corvallis Cemetery following.
— Daly-Leach Chapel | 2022
1939 - 2022
VETERAN
Alvin Robert "Bob" Thorson, age 83, passed away December 5, 2022, at Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Montana.
Bob was born October 17, 1939, to Alvin Ernest Thorson and Edith Mary Miller Thorson in the old Saint James Hospital in Butte, Montana. His parents, he, and his brother, Don, ranched in several places: Arlee, Montana, in 1940, up Valley Creek, Pickett Creek Ranch up the West Fork of the Bitterroot in 1942, and Wise River, Montana, at the Potts place until 1944, and later, a ranch owned by Bob's grandmother until 1948, when that ranch sold. At that point, they moved back to the Bitterroot, first Victor, and then Corvallis. His home has been Corvallis, Montana, since 1949.
Bob attended school in his early years at Wise River and Victor, and then from 5th grade until graduation in 1957, at Corvallis, Montana. He was active in FFA at Corvallis School, and also the Lads-and-Lassies and Summerdale 4-H Clubs. Bob was active in MYF at the Corvallis Methodist Church, and became a member on December 2o, 1953. He continued to support his church for over 68 years.
In September 1957, he joined the United States Navy and was on active duty until October 1960. He was in the Navy Reserve as a drilling reservist for a total of 30 years. He went on as a retired reservist until the age of 60, and upon final retirement, had a total years of 42 years and one month of service.
Bob married Carolyn Kay Nordheim on June 20, 1965, celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in 2006. They had two children, Christian Robert Thorson, and Jeanette Jo Thorson.
Bob worked at Thorson and Sons Manufacturing for 57 years, having his first job there turning the bellows for the forge. He moved on to cutting iron with the power hacksaw and drilling holes in iron. He also did woodwork after school. At the age of 13, he would drive the old truck from Bass Lane to the Tabor Sawmill in Riverside to pick up the boards to cut. Thorsons Manufacturing stopped operations in 2006. Driving across-country you will still see the famous red chutes out on the land. His hydraulic creations are used in veterinary schools around the country.
Bob was a past officer and 60-year member of the Corvallis Grange. He was a 4-H leader for 18 years, and served as 4-H Council president for two years. He served as a 4-H judge at the Ravalli County Fair for 12 years. He was a Ravalli County Fair Superintendent for antique collections for many years. He also was commissioner and secretary of the Humble Drainage District for 20½ years.
After retirement, Bob stayed very busy tinkering, gardening, canning, and enjoying his hobbies. He especially enjoyed his Tired Iron Group, and his "old car guys". He taught himself to play piano, and wrote stories of his youth to pass down to his family. He taught his granddaughters to weld, and enjoyed studying history. He continued to be exceptionally active and always independent. Bob was always ready with an interesting or funny story.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carolyn; brother, Donald; and several in-laws. He is survived by his son, Chris; daughter, Jeanette Smith (Rob); his grandchildren: Harlie Grace, Eden Kay, and Briar Thor; his sister-in-law, Linda Thorson; nephew, Laurence Thorson, and his wife, Randi; and sister-in-law, Joan Angel, and her husband, Richard.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family, friends, neighbors, and community that he was so much a part of.
A service will be held Wednesday, December 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel. Private family interment will follow at Corvallis Cemetery following.
— Daly-Leach Chapel | 2022
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MARRIED JUNE 20, 1965
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