Ethan Josef Thorpe

Gone too soon, Ethan Josef Thorpe, formerly of Rochester, passed away quietly at his home in Bozeman, Montana on August 23. Born December 13, 1985, Ethan was a witty, intelligent and fun-loving person much loved by his family and friends. Ethan graduated from Century High School in 2004 and from St. Olaf College in 2008 with a BA in International Studies. He also attended Montana State University preparing for post-graduate studies. While at St. Olaf, he developed a passion for mountain biking and snow boarding, which subsequently led him to Bozeman, Montana with a group of college friends twelve years ago. There, he was employed at US Bank for five years, and then held a position in the business offices of Montana State University. Ethan loved the outdoors, particularly mountain biking or hiking the trails and mountains around Bozeman. In the winter, he enjoyed snowboarding, snowshoeing and, true to his Norwegian heritage, cross-country skiing. Summer visits to the family cabin near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota marked Ethan's favorite week (or two) of the year spent with family, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Ethan had his grandfather's engineering and puzzle-solving brain, and designed and built his own specialized system for video games. He never met a Lego challenge that he couldn't meet. More than anything, he loved his beloved dog, Addie, whom he adopted eight years ago and was never far from his side. Ethan was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents and cousins Terry and Alex Shiota. He is survived by his loving parents Erik and Eileen Thorpe of Rochester, Minnesota; sister Erin (Brendan) Venti of San Diego, California; twin brother Evan Thorpe (Karina Swanson and son Brody Swanson) of Kasson, Minnesota; uncle Odin (Connie) Thorpe of Waukesha, Wisconsin; uncle Michael (Jane) Murphy of Englewood, New Jersey; aunt Kathleen (Yoshinobu) Shiota of Owings Mills, Maryland; aunt Jennifer (Fred) Frankenfield of Sterling, Virginia, and eight cousins. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, Rochester, Minnesota, will conduct an on-line service on Wednesday, September 2 at 2pm CDT. To view the service, go to the Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home Facebook Page, where it will be broadcast via Facebook Live. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Bozeman Health Foundation, a program very dear and important to Ethan. To donate, go to www.bozemanhealth.org, click on "Online Donation" and reference Ethan Thorpe in the 'Honoree/Memorial Name" field. For questions, contact (406) 414-1085 or foundation@bozemanhealth.org. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes is honored to be serving the Thorpe family. To leave a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com