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Valerie Evelyn (Thunstrom) Mitthun was born November 7, 1948 at Rush City Hospital to Filmore and Cleo Thunstrom.  She passed away with Alecia by her side, after a short illness,  at her home in Pine City on January 22, 2025 at the age of 76.

Val was born fourth in a family of eight; she and Sheryl shared the same birthday, four years apart.  She was the “quiet one” in a loud family but as we aged, we learned to listen for her input and wisdom.  She was quiet --so sometimes, we had to ask for it.

Val enjoyed simple pleasures.  She loved playing games; she was a gamer.  Before his passing, she and Jay enjoyed playing cards and watching the Vikings and Timberwolves together.  She and Jewell would play Scrabble almost weekly.  When some of the sisters could get together, they would play Smear—hours of Smear.  It didn’t matter who won, only that they were together, enjoying the game and each other.

The last two years were particularly difficult for her as she watched her beloved Dennis succumb to pancreatic cancer and then Jay—her son and best friend—die suddenly at their home.  Life would never be the same without her two “favorite guys” and yet, she didn’t complain.

Val is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dennis (June of 2023); son Jay (December 2023), parents Filmore and Cleo Thunstrom, siblings, Judith (Thunstrom) Renard, Camille (Thunstrom) Rainer, Rev. James Thunstrom and Michelle Thunstrom.  

She is survived by her children; son Adam Mitthun and daughter Alecia Mitthun, grandchildren, Seth Mitthun, Dylan Mitthun, Xander Brant, Elaina Brant, and Evie Mitthun; sisters Sheryl (Thunstrom) Quick, Renee (Thunstrom) Dimich, Jewell (Thustrom) Peterson; and  many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends will miss Val, too.

A Celebration of Life will be held March 1 at 11 a.m. at Main Street Church in North Branch.

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