Stanley Howard Thurston

Stanley Howard Thurston, age 82, of Madelia, MN died on September 4, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Saint James.

Visitation will be on Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the Garden City Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Garden City.

Service will be held at the Garden City Christian Church Disciples of Christ, on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 2:30 pm.

The Clergy will be Pastor Kathy Einan Krugar. Interment will be at the Garden City Cemetery.

Military rites will be provided by the Madelia Area Veterans Honor Guard.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Madelia, Minnesota.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Stanley Howard Thurston was born on August 13th, 1942, in Mankato, MN, to Marie (Volbrecht) and Vere Thurston. He passed away on September 4th, 2024 after a month of battling health issues. Stan graduated from Madelia High School in 1960. He was a member of FFA and Ceresco Top-Notchers 4-H Club. After graduation, he served in the MN National Guard from May 1961-November 1964, and did his training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was honorably discharged.

Stan married his high school sweetheart Betty Johnson on July 2, 1965 at the United Methodist Church, Madelia. They made their home on a farm outside of Madelia in Ceresco Township. Stan farmed with his father, Vere for many years until Vere’s retirement and then Stan took over the family farm. Stan & Betty raised three daughters: Amy (Calvin) Schumacher, Elko New Market, MN, Jill (John) Liepold, Elko New Market, MN, and Natalie (Robert) Lindquist, New Ulm, MN. Along with working the family farm, Stan was also employed by the Madelia Feed Mill delivering feed to area farmers. He served as Ceresco Township Clerk for twenty-eight years. He also served on the Blue Earth County Pork Producers board for fourteen years. Until his passing, he was an active member of the Garden City Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

Stan was an avid watcher of college basketball and enjoyed many games at Minnesota State University Mankato. He was a member of the American Legion. Stan retired from farming in 2021, and he moved to the town of Madelia, where he lived at Hartshorn Manor. He enjoyed making new friends and driving people to their destinations.

Stan is survived by his daughters and their spouses; grandchildren, Nicholas Schumacher, Krista (Joseph) Smith, Sierra Dolly, Austin Dolly, and Levi Lindquist; siblings, Judith (Philip) Nuffer of Elbert, CO, and Audrey (Albert) Arndt of Sioux Falls, SD. Stan is preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter (12/23/66), and wife, Betty (7/28/20).