LORETTA MAE (GUSTIN) THORSTENSON Obituary (1935

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Loretta Mae (Lori, Huck) Thorstenson (maiden name Gustin), was granted her angel wings on August 20, 2021 in Libby, Montana. She was 86 spunky years old. Lori was born May 17, 1935 to Lorenz and Margaret Gustin in Hettinger, North Dakota. The middle of seven children, she attended Hettinger Public Schools, graduating in 1953. She then enrolled in the Presentation School of Nursing at Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, graduating as a registered nurse. She worked in many interesting nursing fields, including Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis, MN and the VA Clinic in Miles City, MT. In 1958 Lori married Chuck Thorstenson, a science teacher and football\wrestling coach in Hettinger. Lori worked at the Hettinger General Hospital and the couple was blessed with three sons: Rod, Steve, and Tad. In 1966, they moved to Libby, Montana to pursue their professions. Lori resumed nursing and Chuck was a high school teacher and coach. In 1969, their fourth son David was born. As busy as she was, she then spent an enjoyable stint of time working at Center Drug and Glacier Bank. Chuck passed away unexpectedly in 1984, and in 1987 Lori returned to nursing in Bismarck, North Dakota. In Bismarck, Lori was employed at the University of Mary, Q&R Clinic, and Home Medical Resources until she retired in 1995. Lori headed back to Libby to enjoy her retirement. Above all, Lori loved life and took advantage of its golden opportunities. She was a devout Catholic and attended church weekly her entire life; it was not uncommon to see her beside her good friend Jean Buhl at St. Joseph's Parish. She loved to play cards and gathered several times a week with all of the special friends she had met over the years. She loved mountain drives and having a beer around an open fire, often talking about growing up on her family's farm in North Dakota. She treasured her time at the Long Branch cabin on Upper Thompson Lake and always exclaimed, "I just love it out here!" Lori was a Libby Logger mom\fan, traveling throughout Montana for 46 years. She could be found cheering on the Logger and Logger Greenchain teams with her close friends, the Lundstroms and the Grahams. She knocked out many miles walking with her friend Pat; for years they could be seen strolling Libby's backroads. She often reflected on the good times traveling with friends and family to Mexico, Ireland, and across the U.S. Huck stayed forever close to her siblings and the Gustin family nieces and nephews, cherishing their time together. She was thrilled about her grandchildren and took great advantage of spending quality time with them. Life was to be lived and laughter was always welcomed in Lori's life. She was a caring mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and loyal friend to many and a truly empathetic person. Lori was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Thorstenson; parents Lorenz and Margaret Gustin; father-in-law Oscar and mother-in-law Katherine Thorstenson; sister Marie and husband Denny Henderson; sister Delores Taggert; sister Irene and husband Jay Knutson; niece Jaylene Stoltz; brother-in-law Edward Ellefson; nephew Kory Gran. She is survived by her siblings Patty Ellefson (Bismarck N.D.); Don (Jan) Gustin (Rapid City, S.D); Peggy Schiller (Bellevue, WA); brother-in-laws Dale (Vivian) Thorstenson (Bismarck, N.D), Kenneth (June) Thorstenson Bismarck, N.D.), Bill Taggert (Reynolds, IN); son Rod (Debra) and grandchildren Amy, Jeremy, and Justin (Libby, MT); son Steve (Katie) Thorstenson and grandchildren Ruby and Charlie (Missoula, MT); son Tad (Sheila) and grandchildren Rachel, Ian (Plymouth, MN) and Megan (previous marriage); son David (Jenny) and grandchildren Lauren, Annika, and Allie (Libby, MT); several nieces and nephews and many beautiful friends. Rosary will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby followed by memorial services at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be made to www.schnackenbergfh.com.