Naomi Anice (Evers) Thoren

Naomi Anice (Evers) Thoren, long-time resident of the Grand Coulee, Washington area, passed away quietly on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in Wenatchee, Washington.  Naomi was born December 10, 1923, at Hayden Lake, Idaho, to Henry Otto and Violet Muriel (Manchester) Evers, where she lived for her first five years. Her family moved to Almira, Washington, where her grandparents farmed, and she graduated from high school at Almira in 1941.  She married J. Cecil Thoren on January 10, 1942, and they lived in Almira for five years, and then they moved to a home near Leahy Junction. Naomi and her husband farmed north of Leahy Junction until 1978, when they moved to Electric City, Washington.

Naomi and Cecil raised their children on the farm and were very active in the school community in Bridgeport, Washington. Naomi worked with all the activities their children were involved in: 4-H, Camp Fire, school sports, Girl's Club, FFA, etc.  Naomi, very much a farm wife, raised chickens and sold eggs, cooked for family, hired hands, potlucks, fundraisers and also did fundraising for the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. Naomi's home was always open to others, whether hosting an entire urban family at the ranch as part of the "Family City/Farm Exchange" or the almost daily event of having at least one extra person at the dinner table. Naomi's first priority, though, was always her children and grandchildren, for whom she always made time. Naomi was a talented piano player for her whole life, up to just a few days before her death.

Survivors include Naomi's sister, Betty Hagy (Jim);  three sons: John (Kaye), Gary (Pat), and Denny Thoren; two daughters: Betty Anne (Jerry) Keefer, and Deede (Greg) Jordan; daughter-in-law, Stacey Thoren; 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. 

Naomi was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers: Arlow and Ralph Evers; her husband, J. Cecil, and one son, Robert.

   Viewing was held Monday, May 15, 2017, 10 a.m. – noon, at Strate Funeral Home, 329 E Grand Coulee Ave, Grand Coulee, with funeral services to follow at 1 p.m.  Interment was at Spring Canyon Cemetery, Grand Coulee, immediately following the service.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in her name to the Grand Coulee Senior Center or to the American Cancer Society.

Please sign Naomi's online guest book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee is honored to be serving her family.