Harry F. Thooft

HARRY FRED THOOFT was born to Octaaf and Emma (Becker) Thooft on March 15, 1927 on a farm in Lincoln County, Minnesota. He was raised on farms in Lincoln County and Lyon County, Minnesota. He was baptized, received his first Holy Communion, and confirmed at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Minneota, Minnesota. He attended country school in District 66 and District 70, and then he continued his education at the high school in Russell, Minnesota. After his graduation in 1945, he worked with his father on the farm. On November 23, 1948, he was united in marriage to LaVaune Schreurs at St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived on the family farm near Russell. Harry loved farming, he raised livestock, and many acres of wheat, beans and corn. After his retirement in 1994, he helped Johnson Trenching surveying and tiling for many years and continued to help his neighbors with planting, harvesting, and working the land. Harry dedicated his life to helping others whether it was in the fields, fixing machinery and vehicles, home repairs, construction projects, or pitching in and helping in so many different ways. Harry died August 9, 2011 at Tyler Healthcare Center at the age of 84 years, 4 months and 24 days.

Harry was a member of St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler, Minnesota. In his younger years, he enjoyed deer hunting. He especially enjoyed having coffee with his friends, ATVing with family and friends, camping at state parks, playing cards, spending time with his kitty, bowling, and helping others whenever he could. Most of all, he loved his wife, his family, and farming.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, LaVaune Thooft of Russell, Minnesota; six children, Carolyn Lindsay and her husband Kenneth of Albertville, Minnesota, Gary Thooft and his wife Deb (Coudron) of Russell, Minnesota, Steven Thooft and his wife Nancy Jean (Liebswager) of Russell, Minnesota, Janice Bornitz and her husband Larry of Tracy, Minnesota, Myril Thooft and his wife Evelyn (Sik) of Lynd, Minnesota, and Marlowe Thooft and his wife Nancy Ann (Turuba) of Russell, Minnesota; ten grandchildren, Kenneth Lindsay, Jr., and his wife Delaine (Bauer), Rosemarie Lindsay and her husband Tarek Sahir, Neil Thooft and his wife Mindy (Brands), Amy Thooft, Angela Vall and her husband Peter, Aaron Thooft, Troy Thooft, Kimberly Bornitz, Randall Bornitz, and Tyson Bornitz and his special friend, Brittany Moon; four great-grandchildren, Colton and Brennan Lindsay, Sara Thooft, and Abel Moon; and one sister, Evelyn Schultz of Marshall, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Neil, and his parents, Octaaf and Emma Thooft.