Gretchen A. Thoen, 75

Published 10:11 am Monday, September 26, 2016

Gretchen A.
Thoen

Gretchen A. Thoen, 75, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at Mayo Clinic Health System, Austin. Gretchen Ann Anderson was born Sept. 11, 1941, in Kasson, Minnesota, the daughter of Oscar and Ellen (Benson) Anderson. She was raised in the Hayfield area and graduated from Hayfield High School. Gretchen was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield, where she was involved with vacation Bible school. Following high school, she attended St. Olaf College then received her Bachelor’s Degree in teaching from Winona State University. Gretchen taught junior high music in the St. Paul Public Schools for nine years, and then became a teaching assistant in the music program at the University of Minnesota. In the early 1970s she returned to the Hayfield area, then moved to Blooming Prairie in 1996.

A member of First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Gretchen served as the senior choir director for several years and played the piano for Monday communion services. She was also a member of W.I.F.E. (Women Involved in Farm Economics), the Austin Ladies Floral Club, and the DFL. In the fall of 2015, Gretchen moved to Primrose Retirement Community in Austin. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, especially mysteries.

Survivors include her sister Arliss (Donald) Cerny of Austin; three nieces, Lynne (Tom) Hansen of Wells, Diane (Ken) Wangen of Albert Lea, Marsha (Don) Leathers of Austin; two nephews, David (Debbie) Cerny of Madelia, Paul Cerny of Austin; her godchild Deborah Eastman of Old Lyme, Connecticut; 11 great-nieces and nephews, and many great-great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Ellen Anderson and her sister Elvira Tarleton.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie with Pastor Heidi Heimgartner and Pastor Charles Leonard officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hope Lodge in Rochester or First Lutheran Church Phase 2 Building Fund. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.