Yong Sun Thorson

Monday, August 7, 2017 2:49 pm

Yong Sun Thorson, 73, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at her home in Decorah. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with Pastor Kwang H. Han officiating. Burial is in Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, one hour before the service, at Fjelstul Funeral Home. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Yong was born Dec. 24, 1943, in a wealthy family in North Korea. Six years and six months after that, Korean civil war took place. Her family had to evacuate south from the boats Heungnam Pier. She grew up in Daegu in South Korea, and graduated from Daegu High School in 1960. After that she attended fashion design school for two years and graduated in 1962, because she was interested in costume design.

She got married June 6, 1966, and then moved to China and after for a while she moved to Okinawa in Japan April 15, 1967. She studied at fashion design school for one more year there.

In 1972, she moved to America. After arriving in America, she worked hard at Ember and Sun Down Restaurant. She had a knee surgery because she was in a tough restaurant. Because of this, she had to change jobs and in 1976, she went electronic school. In 1978, she got married.

Yong had two previous marriages before she wed Ronald Thorson in Reno, Nev., Aug. 17, 1992. In 1993, the couple moved to Burr Oak Township, Winneshiek County in Iowa, where they resided. Her husband, Ronald, died April 28, 2001.

She was a member of the New Hope Church of La Crosse, Wis. Her nickname was a woman rich enough to be called an angel of charity. For example, one day a pastor visited her house and gave the pastor an expensive blanket, on and on. She especially loved Sung Sook Ryu as her daughter.

Yong is survived by her lovely son, Kenton Detweiler of Maui, Hawaii; and her granddaughter, Kamele Detweiler of Maui.