Albert Thiessen

Albert was born in Midway Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota to David H. and Elizabeth (Harder) Thiessen on June 1, 1923. He attended Butterfield Public School from 1929 to 1939 and in 1979 he took a basic machine shop course at Mankato Vocational Institute to learn how to operate a lathe his father had purchased. A lifelong member of First Mennonite, Albert was baptized on May 24, 1942 by I.J. Dick. He entered the US Army in 1948 but, due to poor vision, was soon honorably discharged. On April 5, 1951 Albert married Matilda J. Duerksen at the Gospel Mennonite Church, Mt. Lake. In addition to farming, Albert did corn shelling, and saw sharpening. He enjoyed tinkering, building, making 3-dimensional puzzles, and flying his plane. In retirement, Albert loved to be on the move, visiting people and places. He was especially fond of meeting with friends for coffee and a bite to eat. Albert worked for 25 years in the broom factory at the Butterfield Threshing Bee. He was joined by his son, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, in working there. He would start in the spring, making brooms ahead of time, because "you can't sell brooms if you haven't got them made." Albert is survived by sons: Ivan (Sherill), Spencer, IA, Darwin (Virginia), Darfur, and Lauren Thiessen, Windom, brothers: Earl, Mt. Lake, and Elvin Thiessen, Butterfield, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, granddaughter, Cherie Thiessen, daughter-in-law, Lori Thiessen, and sister-in-law, Irene Thiessen. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, October 11, 2013 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Second Visitation 9:00 am - 10:00 am Saturday, October 12, 2013 First Mennonite Church-Mt Lake 305 N 7th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 10:00 am Saturday, October 12, 2013 First Mennonite Church-Mt Lake 305 N 7th St. Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159