Claudette Thone

To view a recording of Claudette's service, please click on the following link: View Funeral Webcast

CLAUDETTE JEAN (SELNESS) THONE was born on February 23, 1936 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Growing up in the area, she graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1953 and then attended the University of Minnesota. She took pre-med courses and was an excellent student. A love for learning continued throughout her life. Lowell Thone entered Claudette’s life on a blind date to the Minnesota State Fair in 1953. It was love at first sight for both of them. They were united in marriage on March 5, 1955 on a bitter cold winter evening. Their first years together were spent farming in rural Beaver Creek, Minnesota. They also lived in Great Falls, Montana, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, and the Minneapolis suburbs. After retirement, they happily returned to the family farm for thirteen years, ultimately moving to Mission Viejo, California to be near family. Claudette and Lowell enjoyed 66 wonderful years of marriage, together in love and faithfulness, with many happy memories. On March 14, 2021, Claudette was at home when she passed peacefully into the presence of Jesus at the age of 85 years and 21 days. She was cared for and surrounded by her beloved family throughout her 17 month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

A long-time member of First Baptist Church in Luverne, Minnesota and also Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Claudette valued and faithfully supported the work of God through these ministries. She also served in the Missionary Society, as a Sunday School teacher and nursery volunteer. Claudette loved being a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She poured her life into each of those roles, creating a loving home and influencing her children and grandchildren in significant ways. Gardening and traveling were activities Claudette enjoyed. A major highlight was taking a Holy Land Tour in 1994.

Claudette will be remembered for her strong faith in Christ, her deep and heartfelt commitment to prayer, a tender, compassionate spirit, and for finding great joy in all the little things in life. She had the heart of a servant, putting the needs of others above her own, and her face would always light up when the grandchildren came to visit. Claudette willingly devoted much of her time in her later years to serving Lowell as his physical needs grew. Her presence will be dearly missed!

Claudette is survived by her husband, Lowell Thone; three daughters, Lynette (DeVon) Wiens of Trabuco Canyon, California, Marcia (Dale) Hummel of Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Sherri (Ron) Alden of San Juan Capistrano, California; nine grandchildren, Amber (Kevin) Grant, Amanda (Nick) Bockelman, Laura (Jeff) Senters, Benjamin (Sarah) Hummel, Bethany (Pablo) Lozada, Timothy Hummel, Brett (Lauren) Alden, Aubree Alden, and Spencer (Jessica) Alden; sixteen great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Logan and Lila Grant, Theo and Ian Bockelman, Ava, Nathan, Lincoln and Ruby Senters, Harrison and Alexander Hummel, Catalina and Lucas Lozada, and Gwyneth, Hudson and Graham Alden; siblings, Sharon (Edward) Green of Plymouth, Minnesota, Susan (Randall) Williams of Plano, Texas, and Wayne (Lana) Selness of Los Angeles, California. Claudette was preceded in death by her father, Phillip Selness; mother, Elnora Selness; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.