Aldean B. Thorson, 85, of Racine, Minn., died on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, of natural causes at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Minn., where he had been a resident since last Tuesday.

Aldean Burton Thorson was born June 9, 1927, in Bennigton Township, Mower County, Minn. to Bernard and Amanda (Miland) Thorson. He moved with his family as a young boy to rural Racine, where he grew up on the family farm and attended rural school. He worked on the family farm and was employed at the Grand Meadow Creamery for a few years. Aldean was married on Sept. 10, 1947, in Grand Meadow to Arlene E. Blanchard. Following their marriage the couple lived in Grand Meadow, Minn., and Stewartville, Minn., before moving in 1968 to the Thorson Family Farm in rural Racine, where they raised their family and lived for many years.

Mr. Thorson was employed at IBM in Rochester for 30 years until his retirement in 1987. Mrs. Thorson was a homemaker and died on Dec. 3, 2010. Mr. Thorson moved to Grand Meadow in 2011. He was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served as a Deacon and on the church council and taught Sunday school. Aldean enjoyed raising sheep and ponies on the farm for many years and he and Arlene regularly went for walks on the country roads around their farm. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, collecting toy tractors and going to horse or farm auctions. He enjoyed visiting with friends and loved time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Aldean is survived by three daughters and one son, Marcia (Mark) Gayken of Albert Lea, Minn., Monica (Jim) Ronnenberg of Byron, Minn., Meladee (Randy) Bakken of Stewartville, Mark (Kathy “P.T.”) of Hayfield, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Loraine Johnson of Grand Meadow and Maxine Runkle of Stewartville; one sister-in-law, Pauline Thorson of Ostrander, Minn; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, his parents, his sister Oretta Heidtke, his brother Norwin and infant brother Dolvin.

The funeral service for Aldean will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Dexter, Minn. with the Rev. Lyle Aadahl officiating. Burial will follow at Grand Meadow Cemetery in Grand Meadow, Minn. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, at Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville, and one hour prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter on Thursday morning. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com