Carmen M. Thorson, 92, of Rochester, formerly of Kiester, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Kiester. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. The Rev. Chris Fiske will officiate and burial will take place in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Eden Township, Winnebago County, Iowa. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is in charge of arrangements.

Carmen was born Dec. 20, 1918, in Kiester, the daughter of John and Ida (Johnson) Johnson. On Jan. 23, 1938, she married Russell Carl Johnson in Kiester. After Russell’s death in 1958, she married Orville Thorson and they moved to Mesa, Ariz., and lived there for 30 years. In 2001, she moved to Rochester.

Carmen loved flowers, gardening, cooking, baking, playing cards and bingo. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends. Carmen was a big fan of baseball and basketball, especially the Minnesota Twins and the Phoenix Suns. Her faith in God was very strong and she enjoyed Bible Study. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and an active member of her church in Phoenix. Carmen was the youngest of seven children and the last surviving sibling.

Carmen is survived by two children: Darlene (Dick) Aske of Rochester and Roger (Tracy) Johnson of Minnetonka; a former daughter-in-law, Karen Brubak of Minneapolis; five grandchildren: Kim Gizzi of Rochester, Kirk (Cathy) Aske of Chatfield, Pam (Mark) Marti of Minnetonka, Greg (Deb) Johnson of Rosemount, Amy (Rob) Griffin of Little Rock, Ark.; 11 great-granchildren: Justin (Jenni Shellhammer) and Allyson Gizzi, Claire and Emma Marti, Lexi, Carley and Riley Johnson, Grace, Anna, Sylvia and Reidar Griffin; three great-great grandchildren: Destiny, Taylor and Makenna; and a host of nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell, in 1958; husband, Orville, in 1984; three brothers; and three sisters.

Memorials preferred to Samaritan Bethany Home on 8th, 24 – 8th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901.