Doryce Thompson, 1922-2014

Published 9:00 am Sunday, June 1, 2014

Doryce Helen (Kabrud) Thompson passed away peacefully at St. John’s Lutheran Community on May 9, 2014, with her son and daughter present.

Doryce Thompson

Doryce Thompson

She was born at home in Albert Lea to Hannah (Granum) and Ernest E. Kabrud, on Aug. 6, 1922. She attended grade school in Glenville and high school in Albert Lea, graduating in 1942.

She married Bill Thompson on Dec. 31, 1942, at the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. She had a son, Bill Junior, on Feb. 15, 1944, and a daughter, Carol, on May 29, 1949.

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She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, first in Glenville, and then in Albert Lea; she was also a member of circle at church. It’s true she was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea (dad was Lutheran), but mom was Methodist, so daughter was too.

Dorie worked as a bookkeeper for many years, first for Brown-Quinlivan Construction and then for Queen Products in Albert Lea.

She was a lover of animals, most especially dogs, and volunteered at the local Humane Society.

Dorie and Bill always had a lovely garden, lush with flowers and vegetables. She was a great cook and baker; her chocolate chip cookies were the best.

After they retired, they spent 21 winters in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where Bill’s sister Dorothy had moved years earlier.

Doryce Thompson

Doryce Thompson

Dorie was a tireless volunteer; she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Shriners, the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary, and she volunteered at Senior Dining.

She made many trips to Juneau, Alaska, to visit her daughter Carola, husband Larry Spencer, and her two grandchildren, Logan and Sophie Spencer.

Family was everything to her, and she is survived by her son Bill Jr. and wife, Kay, of Minnetonka; daughter Carola Thompson of Juneau, Alaska (Carola’s husband, Larry Spencer, passed away much too soon last September.) and grandchildren E. Sophie Spencer (and husband, Mo Ashraf) of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Logan Spencer of Washington, D.C. She is also survived by sisters Pat McGuire and Joan Becker, as well as brother Ernie Kabrud and wife, Laurine, all of Albert Lea, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Dorie will be Albert Lea at Bonnerup Funeral Home in August. The family wishes to give special thanks to all the staff at St. John’s; you were wonderful to us and to Dorie. Thank you also to special niece/cousin Theresa Harriman; you were a great help and comfort for us.

Family may be contacted at: Carola Thompson, 336 Highland Drive, Juneau, AK, 99801. Email at carolalarry@aol.com, or: Bill Thompson, 5259 Beachside Drive, Minnetonka, MN. 55343. Email william.thompson5259@gmail.com