Donald Thorp

Rev. Donald J. Thorp of Fargo, ND went to be with his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on April 20, 2012 surrounded by family at Manor Care. Donald was born on 3/28/25 to Henry and Alice Thorp in Duluth, MN. Following graduation from Denfield High in 1944, he went on to St. Olaf in Northfield, MN and graduated May 1948. He was called to the ministry and graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN May 1952. He was ordained at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Duluth, MN May 25, 1952 (60th Anniversary 2012). He interned in Crosby, ND and served parishes in Epping/Wheelock, Carpio/Hamerly, Leeds, Rural Portland all in ND. He retired from Active Ministry in 1991. He continued to do interim work for several more years. Donald met Betty M. Larsen at St. Olaf and they were united in marriage on June 26, 1949 in St. Paul, MN. To this union 4 children were born: Lynn, Carolyn, Peter, and Becky. Donald had a passion for camping that followed from Epping to Camp Metigoshe near Bottineau, ND. For 20 years the whole Thorp family would spend a week of camp for Mentally/Physically Disabled because of the vision and passion of our father and husband. Because of the love for his daughter Carolyn he made sure everyone no matter what their disability or means could go to camp. To this day, Camp Metigoshe still has a program for these special people called Voyagers. He was active within the community and in camping through various leadership positions on Nursing Home boards, Camp Boards, Eastern and Western ND synod’s, and special education school boards. He was a strong advocate for people with special needs. Upon retirement, Donald became Financial Secretary at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and on other boards and committees. He had a passion for helping those in need and served the Fargo community by representing Pontoppidan for Churches United for the Homeless and Central Cities Ministry. Those left to remember him are: wife of 62 years, Betty; Children: Lynn, Fargo; Carolyn, Fargo; Peter, Carpio, ND; and Becky, Sioux Falls, SD. Brothers: Earl, Duluth, MN; Robert, Roseville, MN; Richard, Roseville, MN. Sisters In Law: Florence Larsen, St. Paul, MN, Gertrude Larsen, Andover, MN and many nieces and nephews, cousins. In addition there are many children/adults along the way that he “adopted” as his grandchildren as wasn’t blessed with any of his own. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father in law Peter and Lottie Larsen; his sister Dotie and brother in law Carl Mattson; brother Henry and sister in law Billie; Sisters in law: Viola Thorp, Mabel Thorp, Ann Thorp; brother and sister in law Elmer and Mabel Larsen, sister in law Evy Larsen, brother in law Norman Larsen, and brother in law Harold Larsen. Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 2:00 PM, at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, Fargo. Visitation: Monday, April 23, 2012, from 5-7 PM, at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND. In lieu of flowers family would prefer memorials to Pontoppidan Lutheran, Metigoshe Ministries or Churches United.