A prayer vigil was held recently in honor of Dean, Gary and Chloe Thoreson who tragically fell victims to an alleged homicide on Sunday, April 28.
    The vigil was held at the Wiota Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 1 and the building was full of community members, friends and others who knew the Thoresons, all longtime members of the Wiota Lutheran Church.
    “The peace and quiet of this community has once again been torn apart,” said Rev. Luke Smetters, “while we’re still trying to make sense of events in Argyle and in Boston.”
    The Thoreson family did not attend the vigil on Wednesday, but “they know you are here,” said Smetters to those who attended.
    The Thoreson family has asked Smetters to serve as their spokesperson during this difficult time.
    During the vigil, area news cameras recorded as candles were lit throughout the church in memory of Dean, of Gary and of Chloe, “who have died by the violence of our [fallen] world,” said Smetters.
    Smetters encouraged attendees of the vigil to love one another while they continued to grieve. “There are so many questions and unfortunately most of them don’t have answers,” he said.
    Dean leaves behind his loving wife, Rose, while Gary and Chloe leave behind two children: Bryan Thoreson and Krista Kreil, who will remember their parents and uncle as very loving people.      
    Dean was a veteran of the Unites States Army and very involved with the community, serving as a member of the Lafayette County Board, on the Wiota Lutheran Church’s council and New Church Building committee, on the Scenic Rivers Energy Co-op board for many years, Lafayette County Pork Producers and served as the Wiota Town Clerk. Dean farmed in partnership with his brothers, Gary and Everette throughout his life.
    Gary served in the Army National Guard and contributed to the dairy farming and hog operation with his two brothers. He was a computer programmer for Pinsoft, LLC and also wrote the first record management computer program for swine production.
    Chloe was described by her children as being a faithful and nurturing wife. She worked as a medical transcriptionist at Monroe Clinic for over twenty years, having just retired in January of 2012 and enjoyed sewing, painting, and dancing.
Gary and Chloe also enjoyed spending time with their family and spoiling their grandchildren.
    Private funerals were held for Dean, Gary and Chloe on Saturday, May 4 at Wiota Lutheran Church with Smetters officiating.