A.M. (Bud) Thoresen, 96, passed away January 18, 2015  at the Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover.   Born in Claremont, NH on June 20, 1918, he was the son of Gustave and Anna (Pedersen) Thoresen who emigrated from Loten, Norway with two children and had three more in Claremont, all of whom predeceased him. 

Bud graduated from Stevens High School in 1939. As a child during the depression, he raised chickens and sold eggs to supplement family income. Although accepted at UNH, his parents needed him to work. After high school, he was enrolled in an apprentice program at Sullivan Machine Tool Company from 1936-9.

On July 9, 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Moody Billings.  He was a competitive ski jumper, she was an ice skater, and together they became excellent skiers and golfers.  They were married over 74 years before she passed away in December 2013.  Bud and Ellie lived in Claremont until 1996 when they moved to Dover.  For over 30 years, they also spent the winter in Florida.

In 1939, Bud started work at Jones and Lamson Co. in Springfield, VT as a tool designer.  A member of the American Society of Tool Engineers, he enjoyed problem solving and rose to General Manager of one of the company’s three manufacturing plants, retiring in 1978.

While in Claremont, Bud served as President of the Viking Ski Club, the Mt. Sunapee Area Ski Club and the Claremont Country Club where he received the “unsung hero” award in 1986.  He was also member of the F & A Masonic Lodge. 

Bud was a master craftsman belonging to the NH League of Arts and Crafts.  He made beautiful apothecary chests for his two grandchildren as well as bureaus, jewelry boxes and wood serving boards decorated in gold leaf by his wife. When he was younger, he also built a wood speed boat, modeled after the Chris Craft boats of the day.

He enjoyed skiing, fishing, playing golf and bridge, and picking blueberries with his wife, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the Blueberry Bog.

He is survived by his son A. Robert Thoresen (Susan), grandchildren Kristin Thoresen Swartzendruber (John) and Erik Thoresen (Traci) and four great grandchildren: Jackson, Avery, Lilli and Clemens, all of whom he enjoyed and loved very much.

Memorial gifts may be made to Stevens High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, 24 Opera House Square, Box 29, Claremont, NH 03743.  There will be a family graveside service in Claremont in the spring. The family would like to thank Langdon Place and Wentworth Douglas Hospital for their good care and compassion.