Madline "Madge" Emmline (Kellner) Thorsland

Madline “Madge” Thorsland, of Montevideo, died on Monday, April 23, 2001 at Homefront in Montevideo at the age of 74.

Funeral services were conducted on Thursday, April 26, 2001 at 11:00 A.M.  at Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. Ralph Peterson officiating.  Burial was in the church cemetery.

Madline Emmline (Kellner) Thorsland was born on December 26, 1926 in Swift County, MN to John and Mary (McGee) Kellner.  She grew up in the Benson, MN area and graduated from Benson High School in 1946.  She worked in the Benson area and people best knew her as “Madge” or “Dot”working at Max’s Diner.   On June 23, 1948, Madge was  united in marriage with Emmett Thorsland  at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, MN.   They farmed for several years before settling in the town of Big Bend, where she helped run the family business of a grocery  store and restaurant.  She later worked as a bookkeeper for the Cargill Elevator in Big Bend for some 20 years before her retirement. She was a member of Big Bend Lutheran Church and circle.  She enjoyed working cryptoquips in the StarTribune, puzzles, reading, planting flowers, playing cards and watching and feeding the birds.

She is survived by four daughters: Constance Thorsland and her husband Ronald Hinnenkamp  of Little Falls, MN, Darlene Ascheman and her husband Daniel of Benson, MN, Charlene Klucas and her husband William of Danvers, MN, and Joy Steffel and her husband Thomas of Olivia, MN; twelve grandchildren: Marisa and Brendan Hinnenkamp, Elizabeth, Jamie, Nicole, and Lacey Ascheman, Emmett and Amanda Klucas, and Julie, Sarah, Brandon, and Morgan Steffel; two great-grandchildren: Jordan and Samantha Ascheman; one sister, Patricia Skogrand and her husband Donald of Montevideo, MN; as well as by several  nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emmett in 1998; one sister, Mary Langaard; four brothers: James Kellner, Johnnie Kellner, Lyle Kellner and Lawrence Kellner; as well as by two brothers: Clarence and Terrance Kellner in infancy.