James Michael Thorne, 60, of Crookston, Minnesota, died peacefully at his home Wednesday morning, June 3, 2009, with his beloved wife, Mary, children, and other family and friends at his bedside. With the aid and comfort of his family and friends, Jim had been bravely battling cancer since 2002. He was born in Bemidji, Minnesota on March 17, 1949, the son of Robert and Catherine (Wing) Thorne. As a youngster Jim moved with his family to Pequot Lakes, MN, then to Jenkins, MN, and a few years later to Watford City, ND. In 1967 they returned to Bemidji and he graduated from Bemidji High School in 1967. He went on to attend Bemidji State College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business. Jim was united in marriage to Mary Joanne Erickson on July 3, 1970 in the First Baptist Church in Bemidji. Together, the couple raised three children-Michelle, Melissa, and Shelby. Jim and Mary moved to Little Falls, MN in 1972, where his professional career began as the accountant-business manager for Little Falls Community Schools. In 1976 they moved to Bemidji and he became the Regional Accounting Coordinator for ninety-three public schools located throughout Northwest Minnesota. Two years later he became a staff accountant for Miller, McDonald and Erickson, Ltd, of Bemidji. In 1979 Jim, Mary, and the kids moved to Park Rapids, MN, where for eighteen years he served as the school district’s business manager. In 1998 he began employment as the business manager for Delano, MN, public schools, also later assuming the duties of building construction manager, and overseeing a large expansion of the instructional buildings on the school’s campus. From 2002 through 2004 he worked in private industry as a financial consultant for Integrity Systems of Minnesota. In 2005 Jim and Mary moved to Crookston where he took over as School District #593 business manager. Because of his rapidly failing health Jim retired in June of 2008, ending a very successful and rewarding thirty-six year career in business management.
Professionally, Jim was a twenty-seven year member of the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials, and had served on the State Legislative Auditor Committee, and State Legislative Transportation Committee. He was a longtime member of Rotary International, of which he was a Paul Harris Fellow, and recipient of the Presidential Medallion. In past years he had been active in the leadership of the National and State Jaycees organizations, the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and as a committee member for cancer fund raising for the Relay for Life. While living in Park Rapids he initiated the organization of a car club that hosted many state level functions.
The Church was fundamental to Jim and Mary’s life, and Jim’s faith was paramount in helping him deal with the many health challenges he faced. As a member of the Park Rapids Faith Baptist Church, and later at the Maple Plain Community Church, Jim served as a Sunday school teacher, youth leader and men’s ministry coordinator, and chaired several select committees. Since coming to Crookston the couple had been attending the Evangelical Covenant Church. After delving into the study of genealogy, he spent many happy hours researching his family tree. He treasured time spent with his family-camping, fishing, and hunting; and enjoyed woodworking, wildlife, and environmental development through the planting of trees. He will be very lovingly missed by his family and many friends.
Grateful to have had Jim in their lives are his loving wife of thirty-eight years, Mary; his daughters, Michelle (Frank) Schaap and Melissa Thorne; son, Shelby Thorne; grandchildren, Frankie and Tia Schaap; brother, Glenn (Jean) Thorne of Bemidji, MN; brother-in-law, Rick Dally of Anoka, MN; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Carole Dally. May God bless Jim’s memory.
The funeral service for James Michael Thorne will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, June 6, 2009, in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crookston with Pastor Russ Paulson and Pastor Greg Donnley, co-officiating. Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Friday from 5-7 pm, with a 7 pm prayer service conducted by Pastor Steve Anderson. Visitation will also be at St. Paul’s for one hour prior to the funeral. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 pm, Saturday afternoon, in the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji, Minnesota.
