Darla Ann Monson Thorson
Darla Ann (Monson) Thorson, 62, Lake Mills passed away Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 at her daughter’s home in Lake Mills. A memorial visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 23, from 4-7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Scarville, with Pastor Randy Baldwin officiating. Burial following is at Mount Valley Bethel Township Cemetery, rural Forest City. These events are open to all friends and family; face coverings are encouraged and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Darla Ann (Monson) Thorson was born July 10, 1958 in Forest City, to Milton and Dorothy (Hurst) Monson. She was confirmed at Emmons Lutheran Church in 1985. Darla attended and graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1973.
She was united in marriage with Harold Duane Thorson on May 29, 1976, at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills.
Darla was a people person. Things that made her happy in life were her family, friends, fishing, and feeding people. From early on, Darla was a caretaker. She worked very hard at meeting and exceeding her family’s needs, even if it meant working more than one job. Yet she found time for family get-togethers, enjoying every minute of visiting, laughing and eating. Darla always made sure everyone had something to eat—even if you weren’t therem because she would send home care packages.
Over the years Darla worked as a waitress, a housekeeper, was at Winnebago Industries for three years, at Diamond Jo and the Top of Iowa Welcome Center for nine years, and spent 24 years at Fleetguard, before they closed.
Darla was constantly on the move, with a smile for everyone, was the queen of one-liners, and loved being Dewey’s wife.
For Darla, family was her life and we were her tribe. People say it takes a village to raise a family—she was our village.
Survivors include her three daughters: Jenny (Brad) Hacker, Brenda (Barry) Henderson, and Wendy (Bill) Nolton; eight grandchildren: Khira Hacker, Madison Henderson, Max Hacker, Ashley Henderson, Riley Henderson, Alex Nolton, Tyler Nolton and Sam Nolton; one great-granddaughter, Ava; two brothers: John and Virginia Monson, Kenny and Sheryl Monson; a sister, Paula and Bill Gaines; Thorson brothers- and sisters-in-law: Donna and Bob Rupe, Diane and John Awe, Ollie and JoAnn Thorson, and Don and Kathie Thorson; and many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Thorson; parents, Dorothy and Milton Monson; sister, Sandy Higbee; and in-laws, Cora and Harold Thorson.
