Elaine "Chick" M. Thurston

Elaine "Chick" M. Thurston, 83, of Forest City, passed away with her children at her side, Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 16, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Forest City with Pastor Doug Snyder officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 P.M., Friday, February 15th at First Baptist Church in Forest City.

Chick was born in Decorah Iowa on August 12, 1935 to Myron and Ellen (Hilldahl) Martinson. She was born in the Decorah hospital the cost of her arrival and a week in the hospital was $40.00. She lived in Nordness with a brother Dale and sister Mary Ann and her parents until she was four years old. At that time the family moved to Gladbrook, Iowa. When she was in first grade, they moved to Forest City. Her dad was the telephone man for Forest City.

Chick attended all twelve grades in Forest City and after graduation in 1953 she attended Waldorf College. While she was attending Waldorf she met Jack Thurston. The two were married on December 1, 1956. Two children were born to this union Timothy of Houston, Texas and Carrie Thurston Carson of Denton, Texas. Timothy is married to Pat and they have two children Luke and Mary Kate. Carrie married Dale Carson. Lindsay Konkle is Carrie’s daughter.

Chick worked at the root beer stand in the 50's as a car hop. Other employment was International Harvester, Deluxe Filters, and Winnebago.

She enjoyed her work as manager of the Winnebago Surplus Store until she retired in 2001!

Chick had many hobbies but her best love was sewing, of which she never tired. She was a very good seamstress. She sewed for her entire family even tailored suits for Jack. Carrie never had a boughten dress until she was in eighth grade. She learned the art of Hardanger, a Norwegian hand work.

She loved making all her porcelain dolls. Then after her retirement she learned to quilt and had a deep love for quilting. She helped her "Y" coffee girls with quilting. Each year they would all work together making quilts. She gave quilts to many family members and special friends. A lot of love went into each quilt she made. She enjoyed many Bible studies she attended.

She worked many elections as the Chairman of the Precinct. They were long days, however she enjoyed seeing all the people.
Jack and Chick spent many hours at the "Y" where they walked and exercised. Chick had many friends who walked many miles beside her on the tread mills. They enjoyed coffee after exercise with the "Y" girls who were her special friends. She enjoyed her trip to the Drake Relays where she and her sister did an 8K. Jack and Chick enjoyed their travels they went on several cruises. However, her trip to Norway with Jack, her brother Dale, his wife, Adoline and her sister, Mary Ann. This was a very special trip to her. She had a lifelong love for Norway. They made many, many trips to Decorah, which was her favorite place to be. She instilled in her family her love for their Norwegian heritage and her love for Decorah. The Welp kids were very special and they enjoyed all their sports activities they attended.

She leaves many family members her husband, Jack; son, Tim; daughter, Carrie, along with a very special niece, Nancy Welp, and her husband, Dick Welp. They were always there to help with everything. Many other nieces and nephews all who were important to her. Chick had many friends around Forest City and in many parts of the country. She never met a stranger.

Preceding her in death were her father, (Myron) and mother, (Ellen); her brother, Dale; her sister, Mary Ann; her sister-in-law, Adoline Martinson and brother-in-law, Gaylen Jensen; sister-in-law, Phyllis Schwichtenberg and brother-in-law, Chuck Schwichtenberg; a nephew, Brian Thurston; mother-in-law, Amy Ray and step father-in-law, Arnold Ray.