Betty Jean Thoreson

Betty Thoreson, resident of Laurel for more than 50 years, passed away on January 30, 2026. She was 8 days shy of her 95th birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy, and her sister, Ruth O’Donnell.

She was born in Heron Lake, Minnesota, on February 7, 1931, the daughter of Charles and Martha (Haberman) Rasche. She graduated from Heron Lake High School in 1948 and Mankato State Teacher’s College in 1950. She became a teacher before marrying LeRoy F. Thoreson (1927-1987) in 1957 and moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by six children, Brian (Kathryn) of McLean, Virginia; Jeffrey (Reba) of Frederick, Maryland; Gregory (Helene) of Ellicott City, Maryland; Mark (Louise) of Concord, North Carolina; Jeananne (Charlie) of Baltimore, Maryland; and Nancy (Tim) of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina; 14 grandchildren (Emily, Bridget, Alex, Scott, Lauren, Alan, Anthony, Julia, Marissa, Nicole, Megan, Andrew, Peter and Audrey) and seven great-grandchildren.

She had been a member of St. Mary of the Mills parish in Laurel since 1970. After being a full-time mother for almost 20 years, she returned to work as a bookkeeper for the Hecht Company (now Macy’s), SCAN Furniture, and Ritz Camera, from which she retired in 1993. She traveled extensively after retirement and remained a fine cook, outstanding hostess and an excellent bridge partner until she was almost 90 years old. She volunteered her time extensively, including St. Mary’s Ladies of Charity, taking communion to the nursing home, and cooking and serving meals at Elizabeth House and for the Catholic Terps.

Over the years she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, who now range in age from 15 to 41, attending their sporting events, concerts, recitals and other activities.

She died at Lorien Harmony Hall in Columbia, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Laurel Advocacy and Referral Service (LARS) or the Alzheimer’s Association.