To the editor:

Our family will always have a warm spot in our hearts for Sherwyn Thorson and are so sorry for his passing. When our mother, Ruth Stevens, died in 2011, a lunch reception was held at her church, St. Olaf Lutheran, in Fort Dodge. A dozen church volunteers were on hand to serve lunch to our family and to her friends who came to pay their respects. One of the volunteers stood out – not only by his size but by the fact he was the only male among the servers. He was Sherwyn Thorson. When we realized that it was him – none of us knew him personally – we asked him if he would come over to the table where our dad was sitting and introduce himself. Sherwyn was most gracious and so kind to dad, who was still having a hard time processing the death of his partner of 65 years. They talked for a few minutes and it was clear that he brightened dad’s day. Sherwyn may be known to most, rightfully so, as a genuine sports hero and a fine man. But to the Stevens family, he’ll always be remembered for that moment of kindness. Our sympathies go out to his family.

Paul H. Stevens

Lenexa, Kansas