Doris Ruth Thorsgaard

Doris Ruth Thorsgaard November 15, 1930 - March 30, 2026 Doris Ruth Thorsgaard, age 95, of St. Paul, Minnesota, peacefully died Monday, March 30, 2026 at Lyngblomsten Care Center 1415 Almond Ave., St. Paul, MN. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, the He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have eternal life." Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Funeral at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 25, 2026, at her church, Anchor Bible Church that meets at: West Metro Chinese Church 3695 County Road 101 South, Plymouth, Minnesota 55446. Lunch will follow the service at the church from Noon to 1:30 p.m. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Hillside Cemetery 2610 19th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. Washburn - McReavy Funeral Home of Shoreview, MN is assisting the family with the arrangements. https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com Doris Ruth (Arnold) Thorsgaard was born on November 15, 1930 on the family farm in Hegbert Township, Swift County, MN, the daughter of Arthur and Martha (Beyer) Arnold. Doris attended Twin City Fellowship in Mpls, MN, and later renamed Anchor Bible Church, since 1981. Doris loved Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She wanted it to be said that she had repented and put her faith and trust in Christ Jesus in her younger years and knew she was saved. She in her later years was excited to be baptized as a believer making a public proclamation of her salvation in Jesus Christ. Everyone saw Doris had the heart of a missionary, an evangelist, and a prayer warrior, as well as being so loving and kind to everyone she would encounter! No matter where the Lord providentially brought her in her life, she wanted to serve and glorify God in all she did. I reshare her life as best as she shared with me at 90. Doris as a young lady worked as a nurse's aide in Morris, MN and she then decided to be an LPN and attended Wilmar School of Practical Nursing. She graduated 1952 and worked for 1 year in Montevideo Hospital. She also worked at Omaha Nebraska - Immanuel Deaconess Institute - 2 years as a nurse. Winnebago Elementary School - Native American Children in Neillsville, WI - 1 year. Under Reverand Mitchell Whiterabbit as a governess for the middle school children. Then worked for 1 year at "School For Jewish Children of St. Paul, MN." - vacation Bible school and dormitory for the children. Doris attended a conference at Lutheran Bible Institute and decided with a friend to start a group called "Nurses Christian Fellowship Group". While attending the conference at Lutheran Bible Institute, Doris said she found herself prompted by God to start attending Lutheran Bible Institute and she accomplished a two-year degree and then a one year of mission's courses for a total of 3 years 1953 - 1956, at that college. She worked small part-time nursing jobs at nights during these years. Doris's Bible missions life verse that she chose during here Bible school years was: 2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him who for their sakes died and rose again. Living in Minneapolis, MN she attended Central Lutheran Church where she met Harold Thorsgaard among a group of Christian friends from that church and at Lutheran Bible Institute where she was attending school. It was several years later they reconnected and married May 2, 1959 at Trinity Lutheran Church, a country church in Fairfield township in MN, about 12 miles from Appleton, MN. Her life became very full after she married, she got a new nursing job at Luther Deaconess Hospital for 3 years. But also, her and hubby, Harold served the Lord by using their 4-plex home that was a 3 story house on Penn Ave in North Mpls. It became a ministry house - serving by letting others live in their home with them. They also hosted a "Good News Club" there as well. Doris had wanted children, but they were unable to, so she felt she could use her time helping others. Over the years she became mom and Grandma to many people. After 4 years of living in that home, they gave everything they owned away to became missionaries for Day Star. Their home was sold to "Youth Challenge" (not Teen Challenge). That organization wanted to use it to work with young people so that ministry bought the home. They served Daystar missions for 13 years at several locations over those years: Zion Harbor in MN - 2 years. Harmony Hill in Mersades Texas in the lower Rio Grande Valley near a border crossing town - 3 years. Also, worked at a place in Indiana for 2 years, then caring for an elderly couple - 3 years. Among other places. After 13 years of missions they moved backed to Minneapolis, MN. Doris went back to nursing again at Luther Deaconess Hospital. That hospital closed, then she went to work at a skilled nursing care at the Caroline Center - it had been Abott Northwestern Hospital. After a while of working there, she had a mild stroke while in her 60's and decided it's time to quit nursing. A new chapter for her and Harold both found jobs then at the Billy Graham Association in St. Paul, MN. She worked in food service and Harold got a job in maintenance & cleaning the buildings. They were excited being able to be a part of that evangelistic organization. Harold then died suddenly in 1998 while cleaning church. Such a loss and she so missed him always serving the Lord with her. Doris retired from the Billy Graham Association after that ministry decided to move their facility to Charolette, NC. Here's a few other ministries she supported: She was very patriotic and served our country as an election judge for quite a few elections into her mid 70's. Doris was a staunch prolife supporter. She was very involved and supported City Life Center founder Betty McGuire, who personally knew Doris. Doris also supported New Hope Center in Mpls, MN. A Christian organization who helped men get off alcohol and start their life over. She attended monthly meetings into her 80's. Doris loved Israel and supported the Bless Israel Ministry at Twin City Fellowship in Minneapolis. Doris also supported a Native American church in Mpls, MN. In Doris' late 80's to 90's she lived well because our precious Doris even at 95 years old had an alert mind and deep love for Jesus all the way to the end. She would Quote Bible verses, singing hymns from memory, always praying - many of us were so blessed on the receiving end of Doris' just being Doris." Many church' friends & family had set times to come each week to see her. She loved listening to her audio Bible 24/7 not TV. Barb and Doris read, talked and prayed together most every day. She loved missionary biographies, historical biographies, historical fiction, Lamp Lighter Classic Books, Christian historical fiction, among others. Doris always came alive during these times. She was so excited to read each day and every time say "I could read another chapter, if you have time?" So, I leave you with her favorite book that she wanted to read again and had just finished. I hope you will buy a copy or go read it for free online. A beautiful story, Doris could relate to the message of trusting and loving the Lord in all your circumstances. The Lord is always good! Here's a link to: The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Basket of Flowers, by Christoph Von Schmid https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24160/24160-h/24160-h.htm Doris would love to say, "The best is yet to come for those who believers of Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:9 "but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." Sweet Doris you finished the race well all by God's grace. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." Doris is finally, home with Jesus, her Lord and Savior. As 2 Corinthians 5:8 reminds us: "we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." In her elder years, the Lord provided many church family and family friends to visit and care for her needs all these years, up until her home going. We want to sincerely thank all the many beloved staff members at Lyngblomsten Care Center who cared for her. You were always ready to help her when Doris needed something. What a fantastic facility that Doris was in! We also want to thank all of her Christian friends & family who blessed Doris by your love and care. With this kind of support system, the Lord blessed her richly. In her final week and a half she was never alone, as a number of folks joined in to have a 24-hour vigilance to lovingly care for her all the way to her final breath at 12:15 a.m. What a beautiful home going! Doris is survived by her many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews on both the Arnold and Thorsgaard families. Doris was preceded in death by her husband Harold Thorsgaard (1998), parents Art and Martha Arnold, sister Goldie Wente (Leo), brother Kenneth (Mardell) Arnold, sister JoAnn Jagow (Harry). In-laws Arne & Clara (Markve)Thorsgaard, brother-in-laws & sister-in-laws - Enoch Thorsgard (Madeline), Anna (Adolph) Kordahl, Arthur Thorsgaard, Arne Thorsgaard.