Jane Thune

Jane Thune, 83, Bismarck, passed away at the Baptist Home on January 4, 2013. Services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, January 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Steve Sathre officiating. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sunday, January 6, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Jane was born to Sigurd and Emma Nomeland Levorson on August 8, 1929. She grew up in Grygla, MN, and later moved to Thief River Falls, MN. Her family originally migrated from Norway to the Mariland Farm in Lake Mills, IA. This was their home farm where they had their own church and school. Although most of the family members have further migrated to Minnesota and North Dakota, the Levorson heritage still lives on in Iowa. On June 19, 1949, Jane married Russell Thune in Thief River Falls and began her life as a farm wife, a job that she thoroughly enjoyed for many years. Thief River Falls always remained very important to her. Even after she and Russell moved to Bismarck in 1959, she continued to correspond with and visit many of her friends and farm neighbors over the years. Jane was a stay-at-home mom and housekeeper who raised seven children. She loved to cook and bake and was even known to put a package of bread dough under the hood of the car so that it would be defrosted by the time they reached Grand Forks. We all have many fond memories of her holiday meals, baking and sewing. She sewed clothes for her girls and mended jeans for her boys, which was a never-ending process. Even the grandchildren had patches on their jeans. She was very active in the St. Pauli Church in Minnesota and later at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. She worked countless weddings, funerals and fall festivals. She especially enjoyed working at the church rummage sale which was a fundraiser for the church youth. Jane's community service also included being a great Boy Scout leader and homeroom mother at Pioneer Elementary School. Jane and Russell belonged to the Sons of Norway and were very active in the lutefisk dinners and selling lefse at the mall during holiday times. They also often met friends at the Norsk Hostfest, where her favorite performer was Alan Jackson. She and Russell also loved to take trips together to places like Branson, Nashville, and her very favorite, Alaska. After her children grew older, a friend persuaded her to work as a banquet waitress at the Holiday Inn and other hotels in Bismarck. She made great friends and worked long hours serving conventions, weddings, and even politicians. Jane is survived by her seven children, Lynette Marty Pitzer, Darlene Tim Shea, Patricia Dennis Bosch, David Beth Thune, Peter Thune, Bruce Thune special friend, Nancy Schmidt , and Kevin Betty Thune. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Michelle Pitzer, Brian Pitzer, Beth Fennern, Chip Shea, John Shea, Andy Shea, Kristin Hager, Craig Bosch, Kara Thune, Mike Thune, Bob Thune, Erica Thune, Joel Thune, Jared Thune and Marcus Thune; 12 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Myrtle Thune; and special friends, Ervin and Ramona Wanner. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Thune, who passed away on October 9, 2012; her parents; one sister; and one brother. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, or the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Jane Thune

August 8, 1929 - January 4, 2013