Phyllis Thoreson, 84, Minot, formerly of Ray, passed away on Saturday, August 20, 2011 in her home in Minot, ND.

She was born August 7, 1927 at Hensler, ND to Curtis Percival and Doris (Peterson) Loss. The family moved to Flasher, ND where she attended all twelve years of school. She attended Kletzing College in Iowa for one year before returning to ND to teach in rural schools near Center for two years. Phyllis then joined her parents in Lisbon, ND. It was there that she met Milton Thoreson. They were married April 8, 1948. Milton and Phyllis lived in Lisbon for a time, later moving to several farms near Nome, ND. In 1957, they moved their family of seven children to Wheelock, ND. Their eighth child was born in Williston. In 1959, the family moved to Ray where she had lived until recent years.

Phyllis was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and friend. She enjoyed cooking, baking, cake decorating, sewing and traveling. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends.

Phyllis was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene in Ray and later in Williston. She also enjoyed her involvement in the Ray Champion Homemakers Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Ray Garden Club, and Ray Senior Citizens.

Through the years she was employed as a cook at the Ray school, as a cleaner at Tioga Air Heaters and the Ray Mall. She did sewing and alterations for many people.

Her husband, Milton, passed away on October 30, 2005. In 2006, she moved to the home of her daughter and son-in-law near Minot and began kidney dialysis. In 2010, Minot Edgewood Vista became her home.

Those privileged to share her life include her eight children and their spouses: Cindy Bonness of Minot, Marilyn and Mike Stroud of Yukon, OK, Beth and Layne O'Neill of Kenmare, Don of Oklahoma City, OK, Jim and Barb of Ray, Richard of Ray, Robert and Kerri of Post Falls, ID, and Tim and Sue of Williston; her grandchildren and their families: Eric and Tonya Bonness, Caleb and Hannah; Kevin and Angie Bonness and Noah; Kristen and Nick Richter; Katrina and Zac Heskin; Thomas O'Neill; Jennifer and David Platter; Kristina O'Neill; Andrea Louton, Zachary and Brandon; Kyle and Deborah Thoreson and Isabel; Casey and Kathryn Thoreson and Linus; Jace and Alecia Thoreson and Kaeley; Tyler Thoreson, Jeni Turso, Jade and Jordan; Aly and Marty Brown, Kutter and Kash; EmmaLee, Clayton and Waylon Thoreson; Alyssa Huft, Matthew and Connor; Melani, Rick, and Jared Gonzalez; Sarah Polk; Ryan Thoreson; her sisters and brother: Dorothy Ann Olson, Joyce Waller, and Leonard Arthur Loss; sister-in-law: Nancy Oleson; numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Those waiting to greet her; her parents, husband, son-in-law Gary Bonness, brother Curtis Loss, brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins and many dear friends.

The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful kindness and caring our mother received from Dr. Saffarian, the nurses and staff at Trinity KDU, Trinity Hospice, Edgewood Vista and Bethel Home in Williston where she was evacuated to during the recent flood. We are so grateful to you all for making things easier for her and us.

Funeral service: Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, Minot.
Interment: Thursday, August 5, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.
Visitation: Wednesday, August 24, 2011, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Williston Church of the Nazarene.