HOISINGTON — Alfred Ray Thorne, 87, loving husband, dad, son, brother, and grandfather, died Sept. 27, 2017, at Ellinwood District Hospital. He was born June 8, 1930, on the family farm in northern Barton County, the son of David M. and Ida Lena (Ohlemeier) Thorne.
Alfred graduated from Hoisington High School in 1949. He then served in the United States Army, during the Korean War, from 1954 to 1956, as a Specialist 3, artillery and rifleman, stationed in Germany and Austria. On July 19, 1959, he married Lois W. (Bennett) Shry at the Beaver Friends Church, Beaver. A lifetime Barton County resident, he lived in the Susank area where he farmed and worked for the Susank Grain Elevator. In 1996 he retired and they moved into Hoisington. Alfred was a member of the AARP and a lifetime member of the American Legion #286 of Hoisington. In 2007 he was named the Labor Day Grand Marshall.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lois W. Thorne of the home; son, Harold Thorne and wife Julie of Hoisington; daughter, Mary Snell of Great Bend; sisters, Gladys Cary and husband Rod of Mesa, Ariz., and Norma Jean Thornbrugh of Modesto, Calif.; grandchildren, Tyson Newman of Great Bend, Andrew Thorne of Fishers, Ind., Sarah Deines and husband Kirk of Hoisington, Krystal Thorne of Great Bend, and Kaulin Thorne of Hoisington; and great-grandsons, Blake and Noah Deines, and Isak and Ian Thorne. He was preceded in death by, brother, Marvin Thorne; sisters, Pearl Spruill and Evadine Seyfert; half-sister, Jennie Shireman; and grandson, James Ray Newman.
A private family graveside service will take place at a later date in Hoisington Cemetery. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to Kans for Kids, Hoisington Ambulance, or Donor’s Choice, in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Oct. 1, 2017