Janet Thorson

Janet Margery Thorson passed away May 13, 2026 at Madonna Towers in Rochester, MN.

She was born on March 20, 1936 at the family farm home in rural Hayward, MN to Thorvald and Valborg (Selstad) Westland. Janet graduated from Albert Lea High School. She married Theodore "Ted" O. Thorson on January 10, 1959 at Hayward Lutheran Church. They lived in Benson and Caledonia, MN before moving to Rochester in 1968. Janet was a stay-at-home Mom with their three children before working for the Rochester Public Schools as a Foodservice Employee for 20 years, retiring in 1999.

Janet enjoyed gardening, quilting and traveling, especially to Branson, MO. She and Ted were active members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, and of the Rochester Woodcarvers, and she did wood carved and painted pieces and chip carved wooden plates. Family was most important to Janet.

Survivors include her husband Ted of Rochester, MN; sons, Randy (Lynette) of South St. Paul, MN and Scott of St. Paul, MN; and daughter, Becky (Steve) Thorson-Randall of Neenah, WI; grandchildren: Shane Thorson and Amber (Nick) Monaghan; Benjamin Staebler and Katherine (Josh) Reel, and Josh and Grace Randall, and two great grandchildren: Wesley and Lorelei Reel; sisters Ramona Bentzen of Naper, NE and Virgina Plantage of Albert Lea, MN; brothers, Paul (Minnie) Westland of Hayward, MN and Dale Westland of Hayward, MN.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother-in-law, Jens and Luvina Thorson, one sister, Doris Sletten, four sisters-in-law and six brothers-in-law.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, May 22, 2026 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester (1212 12th Ave. NW). Visitation will be on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 5-7 pm at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and also one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Hayward Cemetery in Hayward, MN.
Memorials are suggested to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Thorson family.