Merle Everett Thorud

Thursday, July 21, 2016, Merle Everett Thorud passed away in his sleep. Merle, born in Luverne, North Dakota on June 6, 1931, was the youngest son of ten children born to John Oliver Thorud (born June 25, 1891, died September 12, 1963) and Marit Aletha Ferden (born June 16, 1891, died August 19, 1955).

Merle is preceded in death by his siblings, John Oliver, Olin Monroe, Alvin Gerhard, Raymond Arnold, Inez Virginia, Donald Maynard, Wilbur Leon and Alta Mae Thorud. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Esser, and sister-in-law, Lena Thorud. He was uncle to 18 nieces and nephews, 40 grand nieces and nephews and 28 great-grand nieces and nephews.

Merle served in the Air Force for a total of 7 years (2 ½ years active duty and 4 ½ years in the reserves). He worked in the banking industry in many positions, from a cashier to a bank examiner. He went out on his own and opened an antique store in Seaside, then later at the Timber exit on Sunset Hwy, where he had the Half Tree Bar, Antique Store and Trout Pond. The bar counter was made of a tree cut in half, lengthwise and polished to perfection and was made by his brother, Gerhard.

Merle was a member of the Elks for 55 years and a member of the American Legion for 38 years. Merle’s main enjoyment was being the family historian for the Thorud family. He spent many years researching the family tree. Thanks to his efforts, we are now acquainted with cousins we never even knew about before!

Merle was also the one that started the Thorud Family Reunions. We had our 53rd reunion the weekend before his death. Merle never missed a reunion and he always supplied the ice cream for everyone. So many of the relatives were interested in the family history that weekend, thanks in part to the attendance of our newly discovered cousin, Randy and his wife Cindy Laumb, who were able to come and visit. If Merle’s isn’t in Valhalla now, he was then!

Services will be held at 3pm, on Saturday, July 30, 2016, at Skyline Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.