Mildred Grace Thorfinnson was born on October 22, 1928, on a farm near Milnor, ND, the youngest daughter of William and Esther (Peterson) Mohberg. She attended country school in Dunbar Township and graduated from Forman High School in 1946. She died on Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Villa St. Vincent, Crookston, MN.
On August 26, 1950, she married Vaughn Thorfinnson at Forman, ND. Their wedding announcement in the Ransom County Gazette read, “Mildred Mohberg Weds Popular Lisbon Man.” Mildred and her family have chuckled over this headline for years! She and that “popular” man enjoyed 69 years of marriage. 4 children were born to this union: Richard (1955), Kristi (1957), Dennis (1958) and David (1961). Sadly, Richard passed away in 1998, and Vaughn passed in 2019.
After high school, Mildred worked for the Fire Underwriters Inspection Bureau in Fargo, ND while Vaughn attended North Dakota State University. Following Vaughn’s master’s degree completion at the University of North Dakota in 1965, the family moved from Grand Forks, ND to Red Lake Falls, MN, and quickly made Red Lake Falls “home.” Along with supporting and attending sporting events and activities her children and their friends were involved in, Mildred was active in Homemakers, St. John’s Ladies Aid, LWML, 4-H, and the county DFL party. She worked at Red Lake County State Bank, Thompson Hardware, and served for many years on the Red Lake County Welfare Board.
Mildred always led with her heart, and her generous spirit touched many lives over the years. She was an avid reader, gardener, and sports fan, but she also loved to travel, share a cup of coffee with friends, spend time at the lake, watch birds at her feeders, collect cardinals, and volunteer her time and talents to her church family, and to the community through her involvement with the Lions Club. She was especially honored to be awarded the Melvin Jones award, which is their highest form of recognition of an individual’s dedication to humanitarian service, from the Red Lake Falls Lions. That plaque was prominently displayed next to Vaughn’s, in her room at the Villa. Her holiday culinary specialties included Scandinavian treats such as lefse, krumkake, and rosettes, and the family loved any meals that featured her slow-cooked pheasant and Swedish meatballs.
Mildred is survived by daughter Kristi Thorfinnson of Crookston, MN, sons Dennis (Kristin) Thorfinnson of Gillette, WY, and David (Karen) Thorfinnson of East Grand Forks, MN, cousin Noel (BJ) Mohberg of Phoenix, AZ, brother-in-law Bruce Thorfinnson of Starbuck, MN, and nieces and nephews David (Sonja) Saar, Judy (Bob) Benke, Diana Stoeckmann, John (Marilyn) Lang, Linda Lang, and Bob Lang. Her grandchildren include Jeffrey (Brooke) Thorfinnson and children Jack and Blair of Grand Forks, ND, Zachary (Nicole) Thorfinnson of West Fargo, ND, Tanner (Kelli) Thorfinnson and son Kace of Rapid City, SD, Hannah (Shawn) Dalton and children Slater and Shay of Tampa, FL, Nick (Carrie) Booth and sons Teddy, Dirk, Vance, Miles and Magnus of Twin Valley, MN, and Jonathan (Marie) Booth and daughter Leanna of Twin Valley, MN. Her extended family includes a multitude of nieces and nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and wonderful friends and neighbors, all of whom she loved.
Mildred was proceeded in death by her parents and 5 infant siblings, husband Vaughn, son Richard, infant granddaughter Elizabeth Marie Thorfinnson, sisters Amy (Werner) Saar and Marion (James) Lang, cousin Dorothy “Dolly” (Bill) Frost, brothers-in-law Roger Thorfinnson and Hugh Thorfinnson, sisters-in-law Kaarin Thorfinnson, Joann Thorfinnson, Faith Thorfinnson, and Nancy Thorfinnson, and nephews Greg Thorfinnson and Leif Thorfinnson
Funeral Service for Mildred will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 30, 2024 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Reverend Jeffrey Lytle officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Mildred, along with her beloved husband Vaughn and son Richard, will be interred together at a private location near Ekalaka, MT.
# Mildred Thorfinnson, #