Hilda Thorpe, 95, Minot and formerly of Williston and Willow City entered her heavenly home on Thursday, April 18, 2013 after a short illness. She was born to Ivar and Julia (Westby) Thorp on the family farm near Willow City, ND on January 5, 1918. She attended rural school in McHenry County and completed high school by correspondence.
As a teenager she traveled with Ema Noel in ministry, using her musical talents. They traveled Minnesota and North Dakota, seeing many give their lives to Jesus Christ.
She later continued her education, graduating from Minot State Teachers College, and attended one semester at Bob Jones University. Her first teaching experiences were rural in McHenry County. Also she taught at Landa, Barton, Lansford and Noonan in North Dakota and in Culbertson, Montana, and her last twenty-four years as an educator were spent at Webster Elementary School in Williston, ND retiring in 1978. She had a great love for her students and has been privileged to visit some of them as retirees.
She married Lyle Thorpe of Williston on November 17, 1967. They traveled together in ministry during the late 1960's and early 1970's, having much involvement with "The Jesus People," and saw untold numbers of young and old respond to the Gospel as she sang, "Is Thy Heart Right With God?" She, along with Lyle, served in The Chaplains department at Lowell Lundstrom Ministries in Sisseton, SD from 1978 to 1982. She stood by her husband's side as they continued to minister in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and at the time of her death was currently in the visitation ministry of First Assembly of God in Minot.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Henry and Albert, four sisters, Thelma, Agnes, Inga and Esther, and a stepdaughter, Donna.
She is survived by her husband, Lyle, stepson, Danni, stepdaughter, Diane and her husband Donnie, and several nephews, nieces and grandchildren. May God richly bless her memory! She will be greatly missed!
Celebration of the Life of Hilda Thorpe: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in First Assembly of God, Minot.
Graveside Service: Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in Riverview Cemetery, Williston with fellowship following at the Williston Assembly of God Church.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Gideons International.