Kirby’s Grandpas

Within only two months, both Kirby’s grandpas passed away. We will miss them so much! Kirby got to go to his Grandpa Thorson’s service, and we all traveled back for his Grandpa Sand’s service. Both men had very full and fairly healthy lives right up until the end, so we are so thankful for that.

Leonard Thorson, age 88 of Philip, South Dakota , died April 26, 2010, at Ft. Meade Veterans Hospice, surrounded by his family.

Leonard was born February 27, 1922 at home near Grindstone, SD to Joe and Cora (Hovey) Thorson. He was the oldest of six children. He was united in marriage to Phillis Pierce on October 16, 1948 in Rapid City. They farmed and ranched in the Grindstone area until moving to Philip in 1992. Leonard had the mail route to Milesville for nearly fifty years. One year he received recognition for outstanding service on the agri-talk radio program.

Leonard graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1940. He attended college in Mitchell and Spearfish and taught the Dean school before enlisting in the Navy in December 1942. He served as an aviation machinist mate aboard the aircraft carrier Ticonderoga (the Big T) during World War II. He served through three major battles in the Pacific. During one, his ship was struck by Kamikaze pilots, resulting in 700 deaths. Though badly burned, the ship made it back to its homeport in Seattle. Attending his ship’s reunions led to many lasting friendships. The Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to view the World War II Memorial in August of 2009 was a special highlight for him.

For 20 years Leonard and Phillis spent winters in Port Aransas, Texas where he enjoyed deep-sea fishing, playing cards, square dancing, and picking up sea shells as he walked on the beach.
Leonard’s tree farm was his pride and joy. He spent many hours hoeing weeds and “talking to his trees.” He enjoyed gardening and sharing his produce. Persistence and determination proved he could do anything he set his mind to. He inspired us and touched all our lives. His greatest joy was watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He especially liked watching his grandsons Marcus and Blake mow his yard. He was proud of his grandchildren who got good educations and a memorial is established for a scholarship for a Philip graduate.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 61 years, Phillis; four children, Bill Thorson of Belle Fourche, Coral (Josh) Sand of Spearfish, and Bob Thorson and Crystal Martinez of Philip; siblings Mildred Radway, Maxine O’Reilly, Corwin (Zoni) Thorson, Janice (Bart) Parsons, and sister-in-law JoAnn Thorson; eight grandchildren, Troy Thorson of Loveland, CO, Carrie (Jonathan) Nygard of Black Hawk, Jenny Sand of Spearfish, Kirby (Megan) Sand of Corvallis, OR, David (Cori) Burnett of Greenville, SC, Melissa (Eric) Holland of Lake Crystal, MN, and Marcus and Blake Martinez of Philip; six great grandchildren, Jaxon Zeller-Thorson, Carson Nygard, Savannah Holland, Tessa Holland, Jefferson Sand, and Cora Sand; and many individual family members linked together by a golden chain of love. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Lauren Thorson; two brothers-in-law, Bob Radway and Loren O’Reilly; and one sister-in-law, Margo Thorson.

Another veteran of World War II has left us. Robert R. "Bob" Sand passed away on Friday, June 25, 2010, at his home in Killdeer, North Dakota, with his loving family by his side.

Bob was born on June 6, 1919, in a homestead shack on the east fork of Wolf Creek, north of Wolf Point, Montana. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Christ and Clara (Weber) Sand. His siblings were Vivian (Sand) Sugden, Bill and Chris Sand. When he was barely a year old, his mother died, and Bob was sent to live with his paternal grandparents. At age 8, he moved back to the Wolf Point homestead to live with his father and other siblings. Bob began high school in 1932, but dropped out to herd sheep. He later went back to Wolf Point High School and graduated in 1939.

He married Edna Helen Nupen, of Whetstone, North Dakota, on September 19, 1942 at the United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Bob received his undergraduate degree from UND in May 1943. The first of four children, Roberta Rae, was born and died while Bob was away at war. Bob felt that Roberta’s death, as tragic as it was, plus his battle injuries, may have saved his own life, as he was returned to the United States to recuperate at a military hospital in Colorado Springs. Upon release he taught military science at South Dakota State University. As an infantry platoon leader in the European Theater during World War II, he received a Purple Heart and Cluster and a Bronze Star for heroic achievement in combat.

He earned a master’s degree from the University of ND in 1952. Bob was a social worker in several capacities. He retired as Chief United States Probation Officer, District of North Dakota. After his retirement, they built a summer cabin in the Killdeer Mountains.

A lifelong horseman, Bob has served as a Trustee with the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame since its inception. Together, Bob and Edna were involved with the Bismarck Horse Club, Fifty Years in the Saddle, DeMores Riders, and Badlands Trail Riders. They were active in musical and church groups and participated in the development of the Dunn County Historical Museum. They served as Grand Marshals of the 2008 Killdeer Mountains Round-Up Rodeo.

His parents, his siblings, and his daughter, Roberta Rae, preceded Bob in death.

Bob is survived by Edna, his wife of 67 years. His children: Christi (Ken) Neuens, Longmont, Colorado, Robert "Rob” (Mary), Killdeer, North Dakota, and Josh (Coral), Spearfish, South Dakota. His grandchildren: Christopher (Hana) Sand, Dunn Center, North Dakota, Sarah (Mike) Dunlop, Lynchburg, Virginia, Kelly (Alex) Kurz, Longmont, Colorado, Jennifer Sand, Spearfish, South Dakota, Kirby (Megan) Sand, Corvallis, Oregon. Great-grandchildren: Hannah & Lilijana Kurz, Connor, Andrew, and Owen Dunlop, Jefferson & Cora Sand.