Obituary of Margaret Stephanie Thomsen

Margaret Stephanie Thomsen. Born in Chicago. Dec. 3, 1918 and died at home on October 18, 2007 of Alzheimer’s. She lived a full happy life, filled with family and friends. She is survived by her daughter Lorie Thomsen, who happily teaches at Butte Community College, her son Larry Thomsen, who owns thriving a Walla Walla Cleaning Service in Washington state. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Elizabeth Thomsen of Oklahoma, Allen Thomsen Schroeder of Redding California, Charles and Raymond Thomsen, great grandson Caiden and his mom Brook Gerlach, all of Walla Walla, Washington, and her niece Laverne Lopachuk of Wallace, California. Also missing her will be the whole Pearson Family of Maxwell California, who were like family to us all. Marge will be especially missed by her best friend, Cathy Crowder of Chico, California. Marge was the best wife and homemaker there could ever be. She loved Levy, our dad, and created a real home for her family. She left a lasting legacy of love and caring. She was strong and courageous sometimes too, and wasn’t afraid to let us know we had all better live good lives! She was quick to remind us she never even had a parking ticket in her whole life! Nor would she ever cheat on her golf score! Early in her life, she worked as a legal secretary in Chicago after completing business college. Then in 1940, she and her husband, Levy, came to California to help in the war effort and both worked in the shipyards, my dad teaching welding and my mom working in the offices. In 1948 my mom and dad adopted a daughter, Lorie, me! from the Children’s Home Society and in 1951 a son, Larry. We were lucky to be wanted very much and brought up in a loving home. My dad was a 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge, and my mom was active in Eastern Star, both associations that greatly affected how we were raised, the quality home life we had, and the type of people our parents brought into our home. My parents’ Masonic affiliation was the single most positive influencing factor on our lives besides the love we received at home. In addition to providing a home for us, my dad was the hard worker and my mom was the wiz with money in the family; therefore, she made sure they profited from her wise investments. All of the efforts she made paid off in allowing her to indulge in her great passion of golf. Until a few years ago, she played three times a week at Bidwell Golf course where she had lots of friends that missed her when she had to give up golf because of her worsening Alzheimer’s. She and my dad took many golf vacations in their 5-th Wheel, all over the United States with their good friends Bert and Tex Stegal of Willows. They were a foursome to see out there on the golf courses of America. She was also happy and skillful to have made three hole in ones over her golfing career! Besides golf and fishing Marge loved to travel and visit her son and his family in Walla Walla. Of course, it was really an excuse to play golf at even more pretty places, and there she played golf with her grandsons, Ray and Charlie. Here in Chico she spent time with her grandson Allen, and her daughter Lorie. After Levy, her husband of 56 years, passed away she and her daughter, Lorie, went on many adventures like cruises to Alaska and trips to Montana Glacier National Park and Canada. Marge was a happy, smiling person, ready with kind words for others and had fun lots of fun in life. She will be missed by all of us. She will be missed by Cathy Crowder who took her out to lunch almost every Friday, even as Marge wasn’t the best of company. Cathy could always make her laugh, and Marge looked so forward to her visits. Cathy continued to come by as my mom was fading away, and she was there to say good bye to her. It is especially loving when people don’t forget their friends and family members who have developed Alzheimer’s. When illness hits, is when we need our friends most! It is important that we all give thanks and appreciation to the wonderful women who have chosen to share their lives with other’s by working as home health givers. Linda Forester and Susie Taylor were there with my mom every single day for almost two years. These home caregivers are truly an immeasurable gift to us all when we need help with our loved ones. These caregivers, gave love to my mom and took her on adventures and outings and made little parties for her. In the end, they continued to be there for my mom, and me each day we needed them. Also, much appreciation and recognition needs to be given to the senior companions who come into homes and keep people company or take them on trips. Maria Vieira came to visit my mom every Tuesday and Thursday for over a year, always cheerful and full of her special love for my mom! She volunteered her time so generously. There is no way to thank these wonderful people properly. Many people are truly wonderful in their gifts of caring for others in time of need. Many of my friends gave time and love to me, bringing me food, and care packages, calling each day and sitting with mom when I needed a break, or sitting with me for hours when I needed company. My Friends are priceless! There were so many offers of help that sometimes I couldn’t use them all, but they all mattered to me anyway. There are wonderful people around us everywhere who take time out of their day to offer help and do what they can. My mom lived in Pleasant Valley Mobile Estates where her neighbors were so helpful and supportive. Bernice Harreld, my mom’s friend of over 25 years was there to check on my mom each day, and keep an eye on any changes or needs my mom might have. She was so important to my peace of mind, knowing Bernice was there. One wonderful new neighbor, Doris Plants, brought me dinner many evenings as I sat with my mom during her last days. It is impossible to show the appreciation I have for my mom’s nurses, Sally Vertolli, and Loretta, who cared for her so well for many years, and gave us help and understanding and love. What would we do without kind giving people? My mom has had Alzheimer’s for many years, and some neighbors didn’t know her well, for she kept to herself these last years, but many people came over anyway to offer help. I will always be grateful for that, and hope I can do the same for others someday. I will pass on all the goodness that came my way. Last, there all the people at Mountain Care Givers who where there to steer me to the agencies who could help me most, the classes I could take to help me understand Alzheimer’s and how best for me to cope. There were book clubs and support groups and also retreats where I could go for a weekend, and my mom would be cared for free. The Mountain Caregivers and Passages have provided so much help. There will be no services. If anyone cares to make donations in my mom’s name, please give to Alzheimer’s Research or the Mountain Caregivers in care of Bidwell Chapel, 341 West Third Street, Chico, California, 95928. Condolences may be sent online at www.bidwellchapel.com