Foley, Minnesota
Joan “Joanie” Ione Thorsten, age 65, passed away suddenly Jan. 1, 2025, at her home in Longville.
Born Nov. 24, 1959, to Roy and Lorene (Brambrink) LaVigne, Joanie spent most of her life in Foley. She graduated as homecoming queen from Foley High School in 1978. Shortly thereafter, she met and fell in love with her “lobster,” Rick Thorsten. They married Dec. 5, 1981, and enjoyed 43 years together, built on a strong faith and a deep belief in the importance of family. Joanie cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren, creating memories that will be treasured forever.
Joanie was known for her incredible organizational skills, attention to detail and genuinely pleasant nature. She worked for many years as a secretary, where her meticulousness and positive attitude shone brightly. Joanie also had a creative soul and loved scrapbooking, spending hours perfecting each page with care.
In addition to her love of creativity, Joanie was passionate about fishing and playing games. Her hidden talent was Texas Hold’em poker, where she earned a reputation as a master player — often winning with her calm demeanor and being impossible to read. But, above all, the greatest joy in Joanie’s life came from her two grandsons, Luke and Ben, who brought a special spark to her world.
Joanie is survived by her loving husband, Rick Thorsten of Longville; children, Josh (Michele) Thorsten and Rena (Robert) Herheim; grandchildren, Luke and Ben; brothers, Bob (Bonnie) LaVigne, Ron (Merx) LaVigne and Duane (Lilly) LaVigne; and sisters, Mary Kay (Ron) Johnson and Juleen (Ron) Wegman. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Larry LaVigne.
A celebration of Joanie’s life will be 2-6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Mr. Jim’s, 840 Highway 23 in Foley. Family and friends are invited to join in honoring her memory.
F-14-1P
